SDCC 2024: Tracker’s Justin Hartley Compares Colter to Smallville’s Green Arrow

SDCC 2024: Tracker's Justin Hartley Compares Colter to Smallville's Green Arrow

As a gamer and avid fan of Justin Hartley‘s acting career, I’ve been impressed by his ability to breathe life into such distinct and varied characters. From the brooding and noble Oliver Queen in Smallville, to the heartwarming and complex Kevin Pearson in This is Us, and now to Colter Shaw in Tracker. Each role showcases Hartley’s versatility as an actor, and I believe there’s a deeper connection between these characters than what meets the eye.


I’ve been thoroughly impressed by Justin Hartley’s recent string of successful roles, starting with Smallville and its character Oliver Queen, followed by This is Us and now CBS’s Tracker with Colter Shaw. Despite the distinct differences between these characters, as both the scripts demanded and Hartley brought to life in his acting, there seems to be a hidden connection. During our conversation at San Diego Comic Con this past weekend, Hartley shared that there are traces of Oliver Queen within Colter Shaw, even if it may not be noticeable to viewers at first. Furthermore, Hartley and showrunner Elwood Reid hinted that Tracker will include subtle nods acknowledging Hartley’s time as the Green Arrow.

Hartley shared with ComicBook his approach to acting: “I strive to learn something new from each character I portray on a personal level. Life’s journey ideally brings about growth and improvement, even if it’s just adaptation. I aim to keep the characters distinct as they all possess unique traits. To prepare, I make a list of similarities and differences between myself and the characters. For this role, I compared Kevin Pearson and Colter Shaw since I had spent so much time playing Kevin. However, when considering Green Arrow, I realized he was more of a solitary figure with strong beliefs. While both Oliver and Colter could be seen as vigilantes, Oliver was politically driven, and Colter might not have that trait. Oliver was bolder and wealthier, which gave him different resources.”

“We’re going to wink at Green Arrow, you just wait,” Reid added. “There’ll be something.”

What Is Tracker About?

Hartley’s Colter Shaw is portrayed as a solitary figure who travels across the country to locate missing individuals and retrieve lost possessions, earning rewards for his efforts. In each episode, Shaw tackles new cases in diverse locations, encountering an array of intriguing characters throughout his journeys. Feel free to explore the official synopsis provided below!

In a new television series titled “Tracker“, Justin Hartley plays the role of Colter Shaw, a solitary wanderer with exceptional tracking abilities who assists both private citizens and law enforcement in solving various enigmas. Simultaneously, Colter grapples with his own troubled family background. This engaging show is inspired by Jeffery Deaver’s renowned novel, “The Never Game“.

On Sundays, Tracker will resume new episodes and take the first spot in the prime-time lineup for the network. At present, Tracker is aired at 9 pm Eastern Time on Sunday evenings, succeeding The Equalizer. Come fall, however, Tracker will shift to an earlier time of 8 pm ET, slotting in right after 60 Minutes.

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2024-07-29 20:40