Jensen Ackles is back in action as Russell Shaw in Tracker season 3.
CBS released the first photos of the Supernatural alum returning to the set to play the older brother of lone wolf survivalist Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley). Ackles will appear in the season 3 premiere episode after a season 2 finale full of bombshell developments in the case of father Ashton Shaw’s death.
Warning: Tracker season 2 spoilers ahead.
It was revealed that a man named Otto Waldron (Alex Fernandez) worked with Ashton in the past to install power lines on the Shaw family’s property. When Colter pointed a gun to his head demanding information about his father, Otto confessed to killing Ashton at the request of Colter and Russell’s mother, Mary Dove Shaw (Wendy Crewson). He didn’t divulge much more information, except denying government involvement in Ashton’s death.
Jensen Ackles found a way to pay tribute to his iconic Supernatural character, Dean Winchester, while making his debut on Tracker. During the Sunday, May 12, episode of the CBS series, Justin Hartley‘s character Colter was reunited with his estranged brother, Russell (Ackles). Colter agreed to help Russell track down his former army buddy who […]
Mary was always a suspect on fans’ radars as the Shaw kids continued to look for clues about their dad’s death. While fans will have to wait to see why exactly she wanted Ashton killed in season 3, the photos released from the Sunday, October 19, premiere episode are already getting Us excited for what’s to come.
Scroll below to see the first photos of Ackles on set for season 3 with Hartley.
Back to Business
In the season 3 premiere, Colter and Russell will be tackling a missing person’s case related to one of Reenie Greene’s (Fiona Rene) clients.
The Aftermath
The premiere episode will see Colter grapple “with the shocking truth surrounding his father’s death,” per CBS.
A Big Mystery
Russell and Colter will find themselves “mixed up in a chain of events involving a sinister underground operation known as ‘The Process.””
What’s to Come
The title of the premiere episode is “The Process,” and will conclude with a second part the following week on Sunday, October 26.
A Brotherhood
Ackles previously reflected on working with Hartley on the CBS show.
“I’m playing the older brother of somebody that I know very well, and I get along with very well. I mean, Justin and I have known each other for over 20 years, and we’ve been buds and we’ve never gotten to work together,” he told TV Insider in July 2025. “So it was really fun for us to get on set. But it was also very easy because it’s just hanging out with your buddy and we get to have fun and we get to mix it up.”
Prepare for Action
It looks like Russell is ready for business with his gun in hand in this action shot.
TV Magic
For Hartley, getting to work with Ackles on the project was a long time in the making.
“It’s been great. We run in the same circles but we never got a chance to work together,” he told Entertainment Tonight in October 2024.
The Bloopers
Ackles and Rene appeared to share some goofy moments on set in between takes.
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