Justin Hartley Touts James Patterson Audiobook as Tracker Season 3 Returns March 1
Emmy-nominated actor justin hartley is set to reappear on CBS when Tracker Season 3 resumes on March 1, 2026, at 9 p. m. ET; the announcement comes as he reveals a new Audible role outside the series. The timing matters because the series will return from a production hiatus with the final block of episodes while Hartley simultaneously promotes his Audible original work, creating a convergence of projects for the star.
Justin Hartley Joins James Patterson’s Audible Original Trapped
While Tracker was off the air, justin hartley recorded a role in a new audiobook titled Trapped, an Audible original from author James Patterson. The author posted the audiobook’s announcement on February 19, identifying Hartley among the featured voices alongside Stana Katic. Trapped centers on an FBI crisis negotiator named Theo Requa, portrayed by Hartley, who confronts a plot targeting the Empire State Building; Katic plays his former partner, Christine Travers. The audio project provides Hartley with a distinct outlet during the television hiatus and broadens his presence beyond his CBS series.
Tracker Season 3 Returns to CBS with 13 Episodes Remaining
Tracker will resume on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at 9 p. m. ET on CBS, continuing from Episode 10, titled "The Fallout. " The season comprises 22 episodes in total, and Hartley has said the March 1 return will kick off the final 13 episodes that remain to complete the season. Production patterns drove the midseason pause: the show’s shooting rhythm — producing multiple episodes over consecutive weeks — required a break to build inventory so the series can air new installments week after week.
Hartley, who plays Colter Shaw and serves as an executive producer, described the pause as a necessary production recalibration. He noted that the cast and crew needed time off to "catch up" because filming one episode per week in long stretches leaves the schedule behind, prompting intermittent hiatuses to restore a buffer of finished episodes. That buildup is now in place so the show can deliver the remaining episodes without interruption.
John Huertas to Direct Episode 11, Bringing a Reunion to the Set
Director and actor John Huertas will return to helm Tracker Season 3, Episode 11, titled "To the Bone, " marking his third time directing for the series. Huertas previously directed Season 1's Episode 9, "Aurora, " and Season 2's Episode 10, "Nightingale, " installments praised for their emotional impact. His comeback represents a creative reunion: before Hartley played Colter Shaw, both men worked on another series, and Huertas’ directorial sensibility has been credited with producing some of the show’s most affecting episodes.
The decision to bring Huertas back is likely to amplify the season’s heightened stakes. Tracker’s midseason finale placed Colter and his ally Keaton in life-threatening circumstances, and the production’s choice to re-engage a director familiar with the series’ emotional rhythm suggests intent to deepen those consequences on-screen.
