How Jon Huertas and Justin Hartley's Collaboration on 'Tracker' Benefitted from 'This Is Us' Connection (Exclusive)

Jon Huertas Says This Is Us Helped His Natural Rhythm With Justin Hartley on Tracker

Director Jon Huertas and Justin Hartley. Michael Courtney/CBS

Jon Huertas gives credit to his former This Is Us colleagues, especially Justin Hartley, for making his experience on the Tracker set enjoyable.

In an exclusive interview with We, the 54-year-old Huertas shared about his experience directing an upcoming episode of Tracker, a show starring and executive produced by Hartley, who is 47 years old.

Having a history together with Justin made it easy for us to fall back into sync, just like when I directed him on This Is Us and when we acted together as stepfather and stepson. It felt so natural that we easily slipped back into our rhythm.

Huertas was excited to work again with Hartley and Tracker executive producer Ken Olin, who had been a producer and director on This Is Us.

Working with familiar faces and friends is something I truly enjoy. For example, Diana [Maria Riva], who worked with Justin in this episode, and I have been friends for a long time," Huertas shared. "Having a good connection with people makes the work much more enjoyable and the process smoother. Given the fast pace of TV, it's great to work with people I already have a bond with."

Jon Huertas Says This Is Us Helped His Natural Rhythm With Justin Hartley on Tracker

Huertas, who previously directed Hartley on This Is Us, expressed his excitement for another opportunity. He mentioned that Justin has a strong understanding of his character, Colter Shaw. Additionally, he felt that the writer of the episode, Sharon Lee Watson, along with showrunner Elwood Reid and Ken, helped him delve deep into the story during preparation. This allowed for excellent alignment between Justin and himself during filming.

This Is Us fans will remember Hartley and Huertas from their time working together on the hit NBC series that aired from 2016 to 2022. The show revolved around siblings Kevin (played by Hartley), Kate (Chrissy Metz), and Randall (Sterling K. Brown), along with their parents Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca Pearson (Mandy Moore). Huertas portrayed Miguel, who was Jack’s best friend and later became Rebecca’s second husband.

Even before the conclusion of This Is Us, Hartley and Olin were already discussing plans to collaborate with Huertas once again.

Huertas shared that after the conclusion of This Is Us, Justin and Ken approached him about directing on their new show. He was thrilled to be asked, especially since Ken admired his directing on This Is Us. Huertas expressed his excitement about the opportunity to work with Justin and Ken, whom he considers to be among his favorite people and talents.

The episode directed by Huertas, titled "The Tracker," is set to air on Sunday, April 21. It follows Colter (played by Hartley) as he assists a widower in searching for his missing daughter, who vanished three years ago and is believed to be deceased. The plot takes a captivating twist when Colter delves into the realm of amateur ghost hunting and encounters paranormal phenomena during the investigation.

Jon Huertas Says This Is Us Helped His Natural Rhythm With Justin Hartley on Tracker

Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw. Michael Courtney/CBS

Fans can expect another reunion between Huertas and Hartley soon as CBS has renewed Tracker for a second season. "There have been some conversations about me coming back to direct for sure," Huertas hinted. Justin has also discussed the possibility of him being in front of the camera on the show. Huertas mentioned, "I'm going to be directing a lot this year, so it's all about figuring out if I can fit an acting gig in there. We'll see about the in front of the camera thing, but I'll definitely be back to direct a few episodes this year."

Huertas not only directed episodes of Hartley’s new show but also collaborated with Ventimiglia on his ABC series The Company You Keep.

"I really enjoyed working with everyone on This Is Us. I prefer working with people I have a good connection with and a strong relationship because it makes the work easier and I trust them creatively. I believe they feel the same way," Huertas shared. "Plus, everyone on this show is incredibly talented. Whether I'm directing or acting, I always want to be surrounded by the most talented individuals."

Huertas’ next collaboration with his This Is Us costars might be an appearance on the newly announced rewatch podcast from Moore, Brown and Chris Sullivan.

Jon Huertas Says This Is Us Helped His Natural Rhythm With Justin Hartley on Tracker

Director Jon Huertas and Justin Hartley have been asked to return for the rewatch podcast 'This Was Us'. Huertas mentioned that they will sit down together at some point to discuss the show. He also joked about how fans initially hated his character Miguel, but hopefully grew to love him by the end.

Tracker airs on CBS Sundays at 9 p.m. ET. New episodes stream the next day on Paramount+.

Editor's P/S:

' experience on the set of "Tracker" was enhanced by his prior working relationships with Justin Hartley and Ken Olin, both of whom he had collaborated with on "This Is Us." Huertas' familiarity with Hartley, who plays the lead role in "Tracker," allowed them to seamlessly reconnect and establish a comfortable working dynamic. The presence of Olin, who served as an executive producer on both shows, further strengthened this bond and contributed to a harmonious work environment.

Huertas' enthusiasm for directing on "Tracker" is evident in his comments, which highlight his admiration for Hartley's understanding of his character, Colter Shaw. He also acknowledges the valuable contributions of writer Sharon Lee Watson and showrunner Elwood Reid, who assisted him in delving deeply into the episode's narrative. These positive experiences indicate that Huertas' involvement on "Tracker" was a rewarding and fulfilling one.