Tracker Just Found Its New Jensen Ackles Substitute – Yellowstone Star Josh Holloway Joins CBS Thriller As Colter Shaw’s Dangerous New Partner
Colter Shaw is about to have some unexpected company. Just as Jensen Ackles returns as fan-favorite Russell Shaw, Tracker has landed another major guest star, bringing Yellowstone and Lost veteran Josh Holloway into Season 4 for a potentially explosive new partnership.
CBS is giving Tracker fans another reason to tune in. Josh Holloway is officially joining the hit action thriller, and his character could bring a very different kind of energy to Justin Hartley’s Colter Shaw.
According to Deadline, Holloway will appear in the upcoming Season 4 episode titled “That’s the Job,” scheduled to air on November 22, 2026. He will portray Luke Kelso, a fellow rewardist whose approach to the job could hardly be further removed from Colter’s.
And that difference is exactly what makes this casting so intriguing.
Josh Holloway’s Luke Kelso Is Nothing Like Colter Shaw
Like Colter, Luke Kelso makes his living tracking down people for rewards. However, the similarities appear to end there.
The character’s official description paints him as a man whose moral compass “always points to himself.” Luke is not particularly concerned with who the target is or why someone wants them found. As long as the money is right, he is willing to take the job.
When his investigation crosses paths with Colter’s, the two men find themselves forming an uneasy alliance.
A first-look image has already offered fans a glimpse of Holloway in character, although CBS is keeping the episode’s bigger story details under wraps.
It remains unclear whether this will be a one-episode appearance or the beginning of a recurring role. Either way, putting two rewardists with such different principles together could create one of the season’s most entertaining dynamics.
Tracker Is Bringing In Another Familiar Face After Jensen Ackles’ Return
Holloway’s arrival comes at an interesting moment for the CBS series.
The latest episode brings back Jensen Ackles as Russell Shaw, Colter’s fan-favorite brother, for another case. Now, with Holloway joining the cast as Luke Kelso, Season 4 is continuing to introduce fresh personalities around its central character.
The casting also fits the show’s broader creative shift.
Tracker has placed greater emphasis on Colter’s personal development this season, while changing its production setting. Filming has moved from Vancouver, Canada, to Los Angeles, California, giving the fourth season a noticeably different backdrop.
Rather than simply repeating its established formula, the series appears willing to experiment with its characters, relationships and storytelling direction.
From Lost And Yellowstone To CBS: Why Josh Holloway Is A Strong Addition
Holloway brings considerable television experience to the role.
He remains best known for playing Sawyer in the hit series Lost, a career-defining performance that made him a familiar face to television audiences.
More recently, he appeared in Yellowstone and starred in the HBO Max series Duster.
He also took on the lead role in Hour Zero, a prequel streaming series connected to the Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve video game, which is available to watch for free on YouTube.
His appearance in Tracker could give him another opportunity to build a memorable television character. If Luke Kelso proves popular with viewers, a return in future episodes would certainly be an interesting possibility.
Of course, that depends partly on whether the character makes it through his first encounter with Colter.
Will Tracker Return For Season 5?
There is another question hanging over the show’s future.
Tracker has yet to receive an official Season 5 renewal. However, its ratings and streaming performance have remained important indicators of its prospects, making another season look like a realistic possibility if its audience stays strong.
The current season consists of 22 episodes and is expected to enter a midseason break in December 2026.
The series is then scheduled to return sometime in spring 2027 on CBS.
For now, fans can look forward to Holloway’s November 22 appearance. Whether Luke Kelso becomes a one-time adversary, an unlikely ally or a recurring presence remains to be seen.
One thing is clear: Colter Shaw’s next partnership may be considerably more complicated than either man expects.