When Prime Video first released Reacher (starring Alan Ritchson, not the divisive Tom Cruise movies) back in 2022, it was immediately a global sensation. Since then, every streaming platform has been trying to find the next Reacher. Prime Video even released its own competitor in Cross. But Netflix has just landed the ultimate Reacher replacement: a three-season action thriller with a fourth on the way.
Who needs Alan Ritchson when you’ve got one of TV’s most iconic monster killers (not Buffy… the other one). Starring Jensen Ackles, Justin Hartley, and Fiona Rene, Tracker is one of the most beloved action thrillers currently airing. Adapted for TV by Ben H. Winters and based on the novel The Never Game by Jeffrey Deaver, Tracker is somehow a more male fantasy version of Reacher. Justin Hartley leads the show as Colter Shaw, an expert survivalist and tracker (hence the title) who uses his skills to locate missing persons. Unlike Jack Reacher, who does the right thing because it’s right, Shaw is a tracker-for-hire. He’s got a good heart, but he doesn’t work for free. While Hartley leads the show, Jensen Ackles undoubtedly steals each scene he’s in. The Boys and Supernatural veteran plays Russell Shaw, Colter’s brother — if the surname didn’t give it away. Ackles only appears in a few episodes across the (now) four seasons, but he’s easily one of the best parts of the series.
‘Tracker’ Stalks Its Way Onto a New Streaming Home
Tracker currently airs on CBS. Season 4 dropped today (Sunday, Oct. 4), but Netflix is set to be the new streaming home for the show… kind of. US fans can stream Tracker on Paramount+ or Hulu. But international audiences will soon have a new way to watch Justin Hartley and Jensen Ackles’s hit action thriller. 20th Century Television has struck a new streaming deal for Tracker. In February 2027, Tracker will stream internationally on Netflix. Only the first three seasons will land on Netflix in the new year. It hasn’t been confirmed whether the currently ongoing Season 4 will also join them in 2027.
‘Tracker’ Is Perfect for ‘Reacher’ Fans
If one man using his expert tracking skills to solve violent mysteries and locate missing people doesn’t sound like a perfect stand-in for Reacher, then we don’t know what does. The show is frequently compared to the Alan Ritchson-led series (which just dropped its first spin-off: Neagley). Its reviews might not be as strong, but they’re still impressive. While Reacher holds a near-perfect 95% Rotten Tomatoes score, Tracker still has a commendable 89% rating. However, that comes with a caveat. Those reviews are only for the first season. For some reason, TV critics seem to ignore most network shows, so Tracker‘s later seasons don’t have enough reviews to generate an RT score. But trust us, they’re good.
- Release Date
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February 11, 2024
- Network
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CBS
- Showrunner
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Elwood Reid
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Justin Hartley
Colter Shaw
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This story originally appeared on Movieweb
