Justin Hartley Teases What’s in Store for ‘Tracker’ Season 2 and Beyond
Waking up at 5 a.m. may seem early to many of us, but that’s how Justin Hartley typically starts his day. But, come on, would you expect anything less from the guy who starred and served as executive producer on Tracker, last season’s biggest series? “You wake up in the dark and then you work all day and then you open your eyes and it’s pitch black,” Hartley laughs from Vancouver, Canada, where he’s on day three of an eight-day shoot for the fourth episode of season two. “It’s a lovely life,” he adds matter-of-factly.
Today is what the Illinois native calls a “light day,” which doesn’t seem like it, considering he’s got meetings, a read through the Tracker script (and others he might want to develop), a workout, a meal, a catch-up with his 20-year-old daughter Isabella, and some time with his wife Sofia Pernas. Plus, he’s taking a break from all that to talk to this reporter about the second season of Tracker, which premieres Oct. 13 on CBS.
It’s no surprise that hard work runs in the 47-year-old actor’s Midwestern blood. “My parents are really hard-working people, and they’re from the Midwest, so there’s definitely something to that,” he said ahead of the Tracker premiere following the Super Bowl in February. “It’s funny, right, when you meet someone from the Midwest, you’re automatically like, ‘Oh, brother or sister.’ It’s a cool thing, right?”
His path from Illinois to TV began in 2002 when he played the often-shirtless Fox Crane for four years on the NBC daytime drama Passions before moving to primetime for heroic roles like Oliver Queen (aka Green Arrow) on the CW’s Smallville (as well as Arthur C. Curry, aka Aquaman, in an unsold TV episode). Guest appearances on shows like Revenge and Mistresses followed, as well as a 2014-16 return to daytime as Adam Newman on The Young and the Restless. But his career took off in 2016 when he began playing troubled actor Kevin Pearson, one of the Big 3 siblings alongside Randall (Sterling K. Brown) and Kate (Chrissy Metz) on the NBC hit This Is Us. Let’s talk about the guest stars in the new season. Is Melissa Roxburgh back as Colter’s sister Dory? I know she’s busy with her new series (NBC’s The Hunting Party).
Her show wrapped [production] before we did so we could have her back for the final episodes of the show. And then Jennifer Morrison is coming back to direct Episode 6. I’m sure her character will be back.
Sofia is back in the third episode as Billie Matalon’s tracker. It must have been a fun week having her back.
Oh, she’s the best and she’s such a talent. She comes in and she just brings so much more than what’s on the page. It’s such a blessing to have her and then to spend time with her! Those were my favorite days in the world working with her.
What happens in the episode?
She calls Colter because she needs his help with something. And of course, he’s like, “You need my help, huh?” Like, “Okay, then ask. I’ll help you. You have to ask me,” that kind of thing.
How challenging are you in Season 2 as an actor or with the physical stuff?
Yeah, the episode order is much bigger so that’s going to be a challenge. We’re only on Episode 4, so I’m feeling great, Jim, to be honest with you. But that’s me. In three months, we’ll see how I feel. But there’s a lot more physicality in certain episodes. The fights are definitely more physical but I don’t mind getting bruised here so I’m just trying to stay healthy.
Back to Jensen. Obviously you guys have a lot of fun working together but when did you guys first meet?
Yeah, we’re both at the CW. He’s on Supernatural and I was on Smallville. I’ve known him and Jared and all the guys on Supernatural. We’re all actors who are displaced here in Vancouver and we have a lot in common. He’s a family man, he has kids and he loves his job and he loves his family and he loves his fans. We’re the same age and we just developed a friendship. I never had the chance to work with him until Tracker. He’s a very busy man, but I love working with him. It’s great.
Where do you see the show going, like, five years from now? Do you have that kind of vision or are you just focused on what’s in front of you?
That’s a great question. We’ve thought about it. Yeah, first of all, I just want to
