The Brothers Are Back Together!
In PEOPLE’s exclusive photo from the upcoming Tracker season 2 episode, Justin Hartley and Jensen Ackles reunite as brothers.
After first working together in season 1 with Hartley as Colter and Ackles as his estranged brother Russell, the longtime friends reunite — but not without drama.
“Jensen and I have known each other for a long time, we just never had the opportunity to work together,” Hartley, 47, told PEOPLE in a statement. “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 took it to the next level,” he added.
Episode 2 of season 2, titled “Ontological Shock,” will air on Sunday, October 20 and sees Colter disappear while searching for his missing father. Reenie (played by Fiona Rene) then calls in Russell to help track him down in the intense hunt for the survivor.
Hartley first teased Ackles’ return to the series during the 2024 Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour in July. Fans went wild to see the two together at the end of season 1 of Tracker when the Supernatural star made a guest appearance, and they’ve been looking forward to seeing him again.
“We’ve got him, he’s coming back,” Hartley said at the time. “We’re having a lot of fun with it. It’s a great story.”
While the This Is Us alum said “I don’t know” when asked how many episodes Ackles will appear in, showrunner Elwood Reid assured viewers there will be “more than one.”
“It’s like family: when we text him [he says], ‘Tell me where and when,’ and he shows up,” Reid, who previously worked with Ackles on Big Sky, explained. “He’s just that kind of guy.”
Hartley’s Colter is an experienced tracker and survivalist who offers his skills to both civilians and law enforcement while also dealing with his own complicated personal life. In the season 1 finale, Colter revealed some secrets about his father and siblings — a storyline that will continue in season 2. Go inside the CBS Portrait Studio with the cast of Tracker, NCIS: Origins, Elsbeth, and more! (Exclusive Photos) Tracker was an instant hit, renewed for a second season after just its first few episodes. It’s also been CBS’s most-watched show since Young Sheldon debuted in 2018, according to Nielsen, and has been the No. 1 show on cable since its debut.
The season 1 finale saw Colter learn a few things about his father — and his siblings. And the new season will begin a few months later.
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