Fans of Tracker are currently stuck in the middle of a long wait for new Season 3 episodes — and while there’s plenty to look forward to when the show returns, one big question keeps coming up.
Will Jensen Ackles be back?
When Tracker resumes, viewers already know the immediate focus will be resolving the Keaton cliffhanger and throwing new challenges in Colter’s path. But beyond that, attention has turned to guest appearances — especially Ackles’ turn as Russell, Colter’s brother, which quickly became a highlight earlier this season.
Ackles appeared in the first two episodes of Season 3, and his chemistry with the cast made an instant impact. Naturally, that’s left fans wondering whether Russell’s story is finished — or if there’s more to come.
According to showrunner Elwood Reid, there is at least some hope.
Speaking with TV Insider, Reid made it clear that bringing Ackles back is something the team wants to do, even if the logistics are complicated.
“We’re going to try … If Jensen has a hole in his schedule at the end of the year, I’d like to book him in there or try to get him in there. He’s just fun to have in the show. It all depends on — he’s a busy guy. He’s busy with The Boys offshoot [Vought Rising]. So, I mean, as soon as he gets done with that, like I said before, I grabbed him in his only vacation he had all year. I grabbed him for eight days of that vacation.”
The biggest obstacle, unsurprisingly, is Ackles’ packed schedule. In addition to Tracker, he’s juggling major commitments, including work connected to The Boys universe — making availability a constant challenge.
That said, Tracker does have one major advantage working in its favor. Ackles and Justin Hartley are friends in real life, which makes collaboration appealing on a personal level as well as a creative one.
Still, Reid acknowledged that liking each other isn’t enough to guarantee another appearance. Scheduling, budget considerations, and finding the right story all have to align. The encouraging news is that the narrative groundwork for Russell’s return already exists — it’s simply a matter of timing.
For now, there’s no confirmation that Ackles will return later in Tracker Season 3. But the door is clearly open, and the creative team is actively looking for a way to make it happen.
Whether that hope turns into reality remains to be seen — but fans certainly aren’t giving up yet.
