Tracker, which has been an instant hit for CBS, has also gone through some changes behind the scenes including cast exits and an offscreen relocation.
The hit series premiered in 2024 with Justin Hartley being introduced as survivalist Colter Shaw, who goes out on the road to help solve a multitude of cases for a reward.
Since Tracker made its successful debut, the show has found fun ways to keep viewers entertained with fun story lines and crossovers that allowed Hartley to reunite with former costars from projects such as Smallville and This Is Us. So far, Jensen Ackles, Jennifer Morrison and Sofia Pernas have appeared on the show after working with Hartley on other projects.
Tracker, however, has also dealt with its fair share of departures. The procedural faced changes when Robin Weigert exited the show after being a series regular in the first season. It was later confirmed that Abby McEnany and Eric Graise would be leaving the show as well.
Why Did ‘Tracker’ Lose 3 Cast Members Before Season 3? Shakeups Explained
“The only rule I really have of the show is each week Colter is going to come to a new place and there’s going to be a new case. How he gets those answers and what he uses on the team, that’s all something that’s up for grabs,” executive producer Elwood Reid explained to Us Weekly in May 2025. “Meeting these [local] weird characters is something we’re going to try to do more of as the season goes on. Just Colter coming in and interacting with other characters. That’s fun to see Justin flex those muscles with really good guest cast members.”
More recently, Reid noted there was only one constant on the show: Hartley’s fan-favorite character.
“The audience leans in because they’ve seen that character before. But I think they’re still thinking the central DNA of the show is Colter. With this guy, what makes him appealing is he is a mystery to himself,” he told Us in December 2025. “He’s a mystery to the audience. We see him and his off time putting together some pieces of his past.”
He concluded, “I don’t know if we’ll ever put it all together, but he’s going to struggle to continue to do that. That’s just as far as we have thought. The biggest improvement we made this year — in my opinion — was getting people in the same room. Just that connectivity, I do think the audience is enjoying seeing their characters in the same place physically.”
Keep scrolling for a breakdown of the show’s biggest BTS changes:
Which ‘Tracker’ Stars Have Left Justin Hartley’s CBS Show So Far?
Cast Exits
CBS found success with Tracker immediately after it premiered in February 2024 to record-breaking ratings. Viewers have since tuned in week after week to see Colter travel the country to help solve various missing persons cases with the help from handlers Teddi (Weigert) and Velma (McEnany), hacker Bobby (Graise) and attorney Reenie (Fiona Rene).
After joining Tracker in season 1, Weigert’s character was written off in the premiere with her wife, Velma, admitting that they needed some distance. Velma then started working with Reenie, and Teddi wasn’t discussed again in season 2. News later broke that Graise and McEnany wouldn’t be coming back for season 3.
New Faces Joining the Show
Chris Lee originally joined Tracker in season 2 as Bobby’s cousin Randy — and he was then promoted to series regular. Cassady McClincy was brought in as well in season 3 in the role of Melanie “Mel” Day.
Kathleen Robertson and Mark Engelhardt were later cast in recurring roles for season 3.
Relocation to Los Angeles
News broke in May 2026 that Tracker is relocating to Los Angeles with the biggest California tax credit for a series to date. According to Deadline, Tracker will move from Vancouver, where the first three seasons were shot. Its studio, 20th Television, is currently locking down production facilities in and around Los Angeles.
Filming for season 4 is slated to begin in late June 2026 after a $48 million tax credit.
