Fans are buzzing with excitement over Tracker’s upcoming Season 3—but a shocking twist may shake the entire foundation of the show. According to early leaks from a production insider, Colter Shaw’s fate is hanging by a thread… and the premiere could feature his most dangerous case yet—one that might just kill him.
Justin Hartley’s Colter Shaw has always walked the line between heroism and danger. But this time, it’s different. Unlike previous seasons, Season 3 reportedly opens with a mission that backfires immediately. The leak hints at Colter taking on a missing persons case in a remote Alaskan town—cut off from civilization, technology, and even his support team. But that’s only the beginning.
In a draft of the episode outline—circulating in industry circles but not yet verified—Colter is led into a trap set by a figure from his past. Yes, his past. Viewers have long suspected that Colter’s childhood trauma and mysterious family legacy would eventually resurface. Now it seems that Season 3 will finally dig into the secrets behind his father’s theories and Colter’s deepest fear: that he’s becoming the very thing he tried to escape.
But here’s where things get truly wild.
The same source claims that the showrunners filmed two separate endings for the Season 3 premiere: one in which Colter survives the betrayal but is gravely wounded, and another where he is presumed dead after falling off a cliff during a violent confrontation. “The studio doesn’t want even the cast to know which cut will air,” the insider stated. “They want total secrecy.”
What does this mean for the rest of the season? Will Colter vanish, forcing other characters—like tech expert Bobby or the elusive Reenie—to take center stage? Is this a narrative trick to reboot the show’s direction, or a setup for Colter’s biggest return yet?
One fan theory gaining traction suggests that Colter will go into deep hiding, faking his death in order to investigate a shadowy organization tied to his father’s research. This would allow him to operate off-grid, alone, and without legal constraints—a darker, more rogue version of the character fans thought they knew.
Even more compelling? A behind-the-scenes photo that leaked last week showed Justin Hartley in completely different wardrobe—scruffier, wounded, and hiding behind a false identity badge. The caption on the photo simply read: “Shaw or someone else?”
This cryptic image sent fans spiraling, and it fuels speculation that Colter might emerge mid-season under a new name… or might not return at all until the finale. Some even believe that Hartley is pulling a prestige TV trick—à la The Walking Dead or Westworld—appearing in hallucinations or as a narrator, rather than an active character for several episodes.
CBS has remained tight-lipped. When asked whether Colter would survive the premiere, a rep for the show simply said, “You’ll have to watch to find out. Nothing is guaranteed.”
With danger, betrayal, and identity crisis looming, Tracker Season 3 may be about to redefine its entire structure—and perhaps even rewrite the fate of its hero. One thing is certain: fans aren’t ready for what’s coming.
