Jensen Ackles’ first Tracker episode of the season is sure to get Supernatural fans excited.
When Ackles first appeared as Colter Shaw’s (Justin Hartley) brother Russell in season 1 of the hit CBS series, he was spotted patting down a 1967 Chevrolet Impala before getting into Colton’s truck. And in the new season, Ackles, 46, drives a similar car throughout the second episode.
As Supernatural fans know, that handsome muscle car isn’t there by accident. Ackles’ character Dean Winchester drove the Impala, nicknamed Baby, throughout the fantasy series’ 15 seasons.
Justin Hartley Says Jensen Ackles Takes Tracker to ‘New Heights’ as They Reunite for Season 2: See the First Look! (Exclusive) In the episode airing Sunday, October 20, Russell helps get Colter, who’s searching for a missing man while looking for answers about aliens, out of a strange government black site.
Near the end of the episode, Colter asks about driving one day, and Russell replies, “That’s never going to happen.”
Moments later, when Russell drops Colter off to go find his car, Colter seems frustrated that Russell won’t continue driving on asphalt.
“This baby can’t drive on gravel,” Russell jokes — an apparent reference to the Supernatural car’s nickname.
When Supernatural ended in 2020, Ackles was still known for the iconic car. In fact, he said it was written into his contract for the show’s 15th season.
“In terms of bringing something on the last day, I’m definitely bringing something that I’ve had my eye on since day one of Supernatural,” he told Digital Spy of the car in 2020. “But it’s okay, I’m not stealing it. I got permission. I begged and begged for years, but I finally got it this year. They’re letting me drive the Impala home.”
Hartley has always been excited to work with Ackles on the show.
“We’ve got him, he’s coming back,” Hartley, 47, said at San Diego Comic-Con this summer. “We’re having a lot of fun with it. It’s a great story.”
Earlier this month, Hartley told PEOPLE, “Jensen and I have known each other for a long time, we just never had the opportunity to work together. Jensen is the perfect person to play Russell.” It’s a character that’s so well-developed in the books and even more so than what we did on the show. And then Jensen just takes it to the next level.”
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