In a stunning twist that no one saw coming, CBS has just confirmed that Tracker Season 4 will premiere earlier than planned — and the internet is officially on fire. The network quietly updated its release schedule this morning, revealing that Justin Hartley’s hit series will now return weeks ahead of its previously announced date, sending fans into a frenzy across social media.
Originally expected to drop in early 2026, CBS has now pushed the premiere forward to December 2025, marking a rare move for a major broadcast network — and signaling just how much confidence CBS has in its flagship drama. The decision, according to insiders, was made after “overwhelming audience demand” and “unprecedented viewership momentum” following Season 3’s shocking finale.
“The fans spoke, and we listened,” said CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach in a brief but powerful statement. “Tracker continues to dominate ratings and conversation. We’re thrilled to deliver more of what audiences clearly can’t get enough of — and sooner than they expected.”
The surprise announcement comes on the heels of Tracker’s record-breaking performance in Season 3, which saw the series climb to the #1 scripted drama spot on television, outperforming legacy shows like NCIS and FBI. With Season 3’s explosive ending — and the jaw-dropping twist involving Colter Shaw’s mother — fans have been desperate to know what happens next.
Now, they won’t have to wait long.
Within minutes of CBS’s official post on X (formerly Twitter), the phrase “TRACKER SEASON 4 EARLY???” was trending worldwide, with fans celebrating and speculating about what the accelerated release might mean for the storyline. One user wrote: “CBS moving up Tracker is the best plot twist of 2025!” Another added: “They know we couldn’t survive another year waiting for Colter Shaw.”
According to multiple production insiders, Tracker Season 4 wrapped filming ahead of schedule — an impressive feat considering its ambitious filming locations and action-heavy sequences. The production team reportedly doubled down on post-production to meet CBS’s new release window, which suggests that the network had been planning this announcement for weeks.
One insider close to the show hinted, “They knew fans were restless. After the Season 3 finale, the energy online was insane. Moving the release up was the smartest possible move. CBS wants to end the year with a bang — and Tracker is the bang.”
What’s even more intriguing is the reason behind CBS’s bold scheduling shift. Rumor has it that the network is positioning Tracker to serve as a lead-in to a major crossover event in early 2026 — one that could tie into the rumored Tracker spinoff series currently in development. Fans who’ve been following the behind-the-scenes leaks know this could signal the official beginning of a “Tracker Universe.”
Meanwhile, Justin Hartley himself broke the news to fans in the most Justin Hartley way possible — with a simple, teasing post on Instagram:
“Guess we couldn’t wait. See you sooner than you think.”
That post alone racked up over half a million likes within an hour, with fans flooding the comments section with theories and excitement. Fiona Rene (Reenie Green) added fuel to the fire by commenting, “Colter wasn’t ready, but Reenie is.”
CBS has yet to reveal the exact premiere date, but the early launch window has been confirmed for mid-December 2025, strategically placing Tracker as a tentpole event during the holiday TV season — when most networks go dark. It’s a genius move that virtually guarantees massive ratings and social buzz.
TV analysts are already predicting another monster hit for CBS. “This isn’t just a scheduling tweak,” one industry expert told Variety. “It’s a power move. Tracker is CBS’s hottest property right now, and advancing its release gives them control of the late-2025 conversation. It’s going to dominate both streaming and broadcast chatter.”
And if that wasn’t enough to send fans spiraling, showrunner Ben Winters hinted that Season 4 will feature “the most emotional and dangerous chapter of Colter’s journey yet.” When pressed for details, Winters simply said, “Let’s just say the past isn’t done with him — and neither is his family.”
That single sentence has sparked hundreds of fan theories, especially after leaks suggested multiple returning characters — including one “presumed dead.”
For Tracker fans, the early premiere announcement feels like a long-awaited gift. For CBS, it’s a declaration of dominance. And for everyone else, it’s proof that Colter Shaw’s story is far from over — it’s just accelerating.
“When CBS moves up your show,” one fan tweeted, “you know you’re not just part of the lineup — you are the lineup.”
Get ready, because the hunt begins again — and this time, it’s coming sooner than anyone expected.
