Justin Hartley isn’t just an actor anymore—he’s a Hollywood powerhouse on the rise. Best known for his breakout role as Kevin Pearson on This Is Us, Hartley is now making major waves behind the scenes. His production company, ChangeUp Productions, just sealed a brand-new overall deal with 20th Television, a massive move that positions him as one of the industry’s rising creative forces. So what does this deal really mean? And why is everyone in Hollywood buzzing about it? Let’s dive in.
Justin Hartley has signed a new multi-year first-look deal with 20th Television through his company, ChangeUp Productions. The agreement marks an evolution from ChangeUp’s original pod deal with the studio, which began in 2019, the same year he launched the prodco. Under the new deal, Hartley will continue to develop and produce original content across broadcast, cable and streaming via ChangeUp, where Julianna LaRosa serves as Head of Development.
“Julianna and I are delighted to extend our collaboration with 20th. Over the past six years, the studio has championed our projects, resulting in the unparalleled success of Tracker, the #1 show on television,” shared Hartley. “ChangeUp is ramping up to deliver an impressive slate of upcoming projects, and we are truly fortunate to have such exceptional partners in Eric Schrier, Karey Burke, Carolyn Cassidy, Jane Francis and their outstanding teams,” he added.
The deal follows the record-breaking success of Tracker on CBS, which Hartley both stars in and executive produces. Since its Super Bowl debut in 2024, the action-drama has reached over 100 million viewers to date and became the first new series to rank as the #1 series on TV since 2000. Both seasons ranked as the most-watched broadcast series of the year.
Tracker stars Hartley as Colter Shaw, a lone-wolf survivalist driven by his past troubles who uses his instincts to find the missing and collect rewards. Supported by lawyer Reenie, his business handler Velma Bruin (Abby McEnany) and tech expert Bobby Exley (Eric Graise), Colter will stop at nothing to get the job done. The series was created by Ben H. Winters and is based on the bestselling novel The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver. Season 3 begins production this summer.
Before his work on Tracker, he was part of the ensemble cast of NBC’s critically acclaimed, award-winning series This Is Us opposite Mandy Moore, Milo Ventimiglia, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz and Jon Ortiz. Hartley played Kevin Pearson, for which he received multiple Critics’ Choice Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2019, 2020, 2021). Additionally, Hartley and his cast members won back-to-back SAG Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2018 and 2019. On the film side, Hartley starred opposite Rebel Wilson in the summer action-comedy, Bride Hard. He is repped by CAA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman, and LaRosa is repped by CAA.
Justin Hartley’s partnership with 20th Television isn’t just a headline—it’s a statement. He’s stepping confidently into a new role: that of a content creator, executive producer, and visionary leader. And with the backing of a major studio and a loyal fanbase behind him, the sky’s the limit. So, whether you’re a TV junkie, an aspiring producer, or just someone who’s loved Kevin Pearson for years—you’ll want to keep your eyes on Justin Hartley. This is only the beginning.
