Exclusive: Jensen Ackles Cast as Justin Hartley's Estranged Brother in 'Tracker'

The CW Network's 2022 Upfront Arrivals, Jenson Ackles

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Justin Hartley shared that Jensen Ackles, known for his role in Supernatural, will play his estranged brother on the popular CBS show, Tracker.

In a video posted on Instagram on Thursday, April 25, Hartley, who plays Colter Shaw on the show, excitedly announced the casting news to his followers.

"We're so excited about the amazing response we've received, it's truly overwhelming," the This Is Us alum expressed gratitude to fans for their support during the first season of the show. "I have some news to share with you all. Throughout the season, we've been exploring the family drama involving Colter and Russell, my brother."

"I'm happy to announce that we've found the perfect actor to play the role of Russell Shaw. This individual consistently delivers outstanding performances," he added.

Ackles, who is 46 years old, could be heard tapping on something before making his appearance. Hartley, visibly annoyed, repeated the phrase "knocks it out the park every time" before flipping the camera to the Days of Our Lives alum, who was busy playing an arcade game.

"We were supposed to do this together, but he's in the middle of something," he joked before ending the video by posing with Ackles.

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Ackles wrote in the comments section of the post, "I had a blast mixing it up with you, Hartley. Let's do it again."

Fans were thrilled when they heard the news. One social media user commented, "This casting is fantastic, Jensen and you are both truly awesome." Another fan added, "I'm so excited! You two are the perfect choice and will have amazing chemistry on screen as brothers."

Ackles is slated to make his Tracker debut in the May 12 episode.

Though this is Hartley and Ackles’ first time working together, Tracker reunited Hartley with his This Is Us costar, Jon Huertas.

Huertas, 54, recently spoke with We about directing an upcoming episode of the series. He shared how working with Justin Hartley, who also produces the show, made his time on the Tracker set a breeze.

Due to their history together, Huertas and Hartley quickly fell back into sync. They had previously worked together on This Is Us and shared scenes as stepfather and stepson. This familiarity made the directing process smooth and effortless for Huertas.

He mentioned that Justin embodies his character [Colter Shaw] really well. The writer of the episode [Sharon Lee Watson], showrunner Elwood [Reid], and Ken Olin did a great job in preparing him for the role, allowing him to align with Justin during filming.

You can catch Tracker on CBS Sundays at 9 p.m. ET, with new episodes available for streaming on Paramount+ the following day.

Editor's P/S:

The casting of Jensen Ackles as Justin Hartley's estranged brother on "Tracker" is an exciting development for fans of both actors. Ackles is a proven talent with a loyal following from his role as Dean Winchester on "Supernatural," and his chemistry with Hartley is undeniable. The show's producers have made a wise choice in bringing Ackles on board, and it will be interesting to see how his character interacts with Hartley's Colter Shaw.

The fact that Hartley and Ackles are both producers on "Tracker" is also significant. This gives them a greater say in the creative direction of the show and ensures that they will be able to work together to create a compelling and entertaining story. Fans can expect great things from the upcoming season of "Tracker," and the addition of Ackles to the cast is just one of the reasons why.