Jensen Ackles as Russell Shaw in ‘Tracker.’ Sergei Bachlakov/CBS
Jensen Ackles discovered a option to pay tribute to his iconic Supernatural character, Dean Winchester, whereas making his debut on Tracker.
Throughout the Sunday, Could 12, episode of the CBS sequence, Justin Hartley‘s character Colter was reunited together with his estranged brother, Russell (Ackles). Colter agreed to assist Russell observe down his former military buddy who went lacking after a number of weeks of paranoid habits.
When Colter picked up his older brother at a motel (which already gave Supernatural followers a way of deja vu), Russell made his option to the passenger’s seat — however not earlier than playfully patting a Chevrolet Impala that was parked proper subsequent to Colter’s pickup truck. (The automotive was gone from the parking zone when Colter visited the motel once more solely to search out out that Russell was gone.)
Followers of Ackles’ filmography ought to be very acquainted with that refined Easter egg. Earlier than Ackles, 46, was solid as Russell, he rose to stardom enjoying Dean on The CW’s hit sequence Supernatural. Ackles starred reverse Jared Padalecki, who portrayed Dean’s brother, Sam Winchester, from 2005 to 2020.
From The CW’s Riverdale to Netflix’s Stranger Issues, viewers have witnessed many memorable TV sibling bonds through the years. Stranger Issues, which debuted in 2016, explored Jonathan Byers’ (Charlie Heaton) seek for his youthful brother, Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), within the first season. Because the hit Netflix sequence approached its remaining episodes, the brothers grew […]
The Impala — which was affectionately known as “Child” on the present — was handed right down to Dean from his father, John Winchester (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). From cross nation journeys to automotive crashes to chase scenes, the car aided the Winchesters of their monster searching actions through the years.
JENSEN AND BABY I MEAN RUSSEL AND BABY #Tracker pic.twitter.com/ZKtJyaXzVe
— Rhiannon/AUSTINCON (@PadaleckiCordi) Could 13, 2024
Ackles determined to take the automotive with him when Supernatural got here to an finish.
“So far as taking one thing on the ultimate day, I’ll undoubtedly be taking one thing that I’ve had my eye on since day considered one of Supernatural,” he informed Digital Spy in September 2020. “Nevertheless it’s OK, I’m not stealing it. I bought permission. I begged and begged and pleaded for years, however I lastly bought it this 12 months. They’re going to let me drive residence the Impala.”
That very same month, Ackles revealed he had a clause in regards to the Impala put in his contract. “I’ve been speaking about that for 2 years now, and so they lastly added that to my contract this final season,” he shared on Michael Rosenbaum‘s “Inside You” podcast about how Padalecki was provided the automotive’s double to take residence.
Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles not solely fashioned an in depth bond with one another whereas enjoying brothers Sam and Dean Winchester, respectively, on Supernatural, however in addition they solid an unbreakable reference to their followers. The actors led the CW drama for 15 seasons from September 2005 to November 2020. The duo had been the one solid […]
Ackles continued to search out success after Supernatural with visitor roles on tasks reminiscent of Huge Sky and The Boys. He reunited with Padalecki, 41, in 2022 when Ackles directed — and made a cameo — in his former costar’s The CW present Walker. Ackles was additionally an government producer and narrator on the Supernatural spinoff sequence The Winchesters, which ran from 2022 to 2023.
Now, Ackles is anticipated to play a significant function on CBS’ Tracker. Forward of his debut, viewers slowly discovered about Colter’s points with Russell. Colter has hinted all through the primary season that he was on the outs with Russell as a result of he thought his older brother was answerable for their father’s dying.
Russell provided his facet of the story throughout Sunday’s episode when he claimed there was another person within the woods the evening their dad died. Regardless of not totally making amends, Colter agreed to assist Russell as their investigation led to them digging into Particular Forces missions, shady off-the-books packages and conspiracy theories. The truth is, most of Russell’s scenes had blink-and-you-will-miss-it undertones that appeared very paying homage to Dean Winchester.
Followers hoping to see extra of Ackles down the street are in luck. Hartley confirmed earlier this month that Ackles is “gonna come again” for extra episodes in season 2.
“When it was time to solid Russell Shaw, I used to be like, ‘We constructed this complete factor up. It’s essential that we get any person in there that’s only a juggernaut. Any person that you’d imagine as a result of he’s gonna go toe-to-toe with Colter, in a very good or dangerous approach, and that you simply additionally imagine is his brother,’” the actor informed Collider. “And I simply thought Jensen Ackles could be good for it.”
Tracker airs on CBS Sundays at 9 p.m. ET. New episodes stream the following day on Paramount+.
