Several surprising exits of cast members have occurred on Justin Hartley’s Tracker, and further changes may happen.
Elwood Reid, the executive producer, spoke exclusively with Us Weekly and defended the choice to alter season 3 with the unexpected departures of Velma (Abby McEnany) and Bobby (Eric Graise).
“Justin is responsible for a lot on the show. Thus, I don’t want the other characters featured in the show to merely be contacts that he uses when in need. The challenge for season 3 is figuring out how to create a genuinely compelling story out of [it],” Reid hinted before the Sunday, October 19, premiere.
Reid mentioned that Reenie (Fiona Rene) and Randy (Chris Lee) are still involved.
“Reenie is taking responsibility for a lot of the guilt [from her season 2 case], and she has brought Randy along to help resolve it. You’ll see them in the office, which fosters a strong relationship between them. We also intend to introduce another character as she aims to expand her law firm slightly, which will be intriguing,” he added. “It involves developing those story arcs. Our aim for this season was to further develop the worlds of these individuals.”
Reid added: “The goal is to incorporate some levity [into the show] since Colter is occasionally dealing with really intense and serious situations. It’s a matter of life and death.”
Since Tracker debuted in February 2024, audiences have consistently watched Colter (Hartley) as he journeys across the country, aiding in the resolution of numerous missing persons cases. The supporting cast, including characters like handlers Teddi (Robin Weigert) and Velma, hacker Bobby, and attorney Reenie, has expanded as Colter has received assistance.
Season 3 will begin after Velma and Bobby (Graise) left Colter’s team. In total, Weigert, McEnany, and Graise have all departed from Tracker during the first two seasons. According to Reid, this implies that viewers should anticipate further significant changes onscreen.
“Anything is possible. Justin is the only one secure. It’s Tracker, and he appears on the promotional material. Any show—especially one entering its third season—must evolve. When I say evolve, I don’t mean more significant vehicle pursuits or aerial stunts. I mean developing the characters significantly and meaningfully,” he clarified. “If I’m asking you to dedicate an hour of your time to this show, I believe you should experience some emotion and develop a connection with these characters. A component of that involves portraying them as complex characters who exist independently of aiding Colter. He possesses a dark past that we delve into, which necessitates that the other characters also have aspects to their lives. Everyone needs their own distinct element. I believe that is incredibly crucial.”
While addressing the casting changes, Reid recognized the varied reactions from viewers.
“None of these individuals are truly gone, nor are they deceased. We consistently endeavor to develop and broaden these characters,” he stated. “We have a solid team established, and we intend to introduce another character.”
Tracker returns to CBS on Sunday, October 19, at 8 p.m. ET, and will then be available for streaming on Paramount+ the following day.
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