CBS is 100-percent ready to play Tracker, having given a series order to Justin Hartley ‘s This Is Us follow-up.
“I am overjoyed to give the first new show order for next season to this thrilling new series led by the incredibly talented Justin Hartley,” Amy Reisenbach, the new president of CBS Entertainment, said in a statement. “Tracker is an excellent addition to our already successful drama lineup, and since our viewers love shows with action, intrigue, mystery and complex characters, they will love Tracker — it delivers on all fronts.”
CBS is getting a head start on boosting the profile of its new Justin Hartley drama, now named Tracker.
The series, which was previously known as The Never Game, is scheduled to air during the 2023-2024 broadcast season. But the network’s marketing department under President Mike Benson plans to kick off the drama’s promotional campaign during March Madness this Thursday. Watch a preview below.
“We’ve never had an opportunity like this where we picked up a show so soon so we can start promoting it this soon. There has never been more content, and we really want to make sure we are creating awareness and interest for it. When we have an opportunity to do that, like with March Madness that has an audience we think would be interested, we want to take advantage.”
This is Us’ Swan Song aired in May, and among the cast there’s already who’s thinking about the future.
The actor who plays Kevin Pearson has already chosen his next project. Justin Hartley will be protagonist of the new series The Never Game, TV adaptation of the 2019 novel by Jeffrey Deaver, premiering on CBS in the 2022/2023 TV season. The series chosen from CBS is produced by 20th Television with Justin Hartley and Ken Olin, one of This is us‘ directors and producers, through his companies, ChengUp Productions and Afterportsmiuth Productions.
CBS ordered “The Never Game” for a pilot
The Never Game tells the story of Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) a man who travels the country in his old camper van helping the police but also private citizens to solve crimes and find missing persons. At least until the last case changes everything, because this time it’s a personal matter. Shaw finds himself involved in a game of cat chasing the mouse, risking his life to save the victims.
He’ll soon find out someone’s after him and he’ll have to hurry to save himself. Shaw is a man raised on the fringes of society, educated along with siblings by his own parents, former professors who left the city for safety and taught their children how to survive “The Never Game” as his father called it, at least until he was killed.
The Never Game is an action-adventure that “kicks serious butt.”
Justin Hartley broke the news on his Instagram profile with the post you see below!
Pretty exciting news! Been working on this one for a bit. This is gonna be fun.
Justin Hartley
Ken Olin expressed appreciation for the news through the tweet below:
I love working with @justinhartley so much I’m just gonna keep doing it. https://t.co/TzW8fKjkUP
— ken olin (@kenolin1) September 9, 2021
Justin Hartley’s Statement
“I couldn’t be happier that The Never Game is coming to CBS, and that Colter Shaw will be brought to life on screen soon,” said Hartley when the project was announced. “When I read the book, I was immediately drawn to the character and the story; developing this project with Ken has been a true labor of love. Colter is going to kick some serious ass, and I can’t wait for audiences to meet him.”
Plot
“It’s about a mercenary, reward seeker kind of guy with an interesting backstory and how he kind of navigates his life based on how he was raised and his special set of skills. Although it’s not Liam Neeson, but it’s very much is that sort of mercenary kind of thing. It’s cool. It’s different.”Fingers crossed and we hope to see Justin Hartley in this new adventure with “The Never Game”!
‘Imagine Kevin Pearson As an Action Hero’ – Ken Olin
As the pilot started shooting today, Ken Olin, director/executive produce of the project, tweeted: “Imagine Kevin Pearson as an action hero. Yep. #NoTears.”
Mary McDonnell Joins Justin Hartley In CBS Drama Pilot ‘The Never Game’
Mary McDonnell has been tapped as a lead opposite Justin Hartley in CBS drama pilot The Never Game, an adaptation of Jeffery Deaver’s novel, from director Ken Olin and 20th Television.
McDonnell will play Mary Dove Shaw, Colter’s (Hartley) solid, strong, and uncompromising mother. She raised her three children on the remote California compound where her husband took them before his mysterious death. She still lives there, self-reliant and upright, the emotional center of Colter’s restless life—and the key to the secrets of his past.
Robin Weigert, Abby McEnany & Eric Graise Join Justin Hartley In ‘The Never Game’ CBS Drama Pilot
Robin Weigert (Deadwood), Abby McEnany (Work In Progress) and Eric Graise (Step Up: High Water) are set as leads opposite Justin Hartley in CBS drama pilot The Never Game, an adaptation of Jeffery Deaver’s novel. The quartet, as well as recently announced Mary McDonnell, comprise the core cast of the project from director Ken Olin and 20th Television.
Finished Shooting of Pilot Episode
On October 30, Director and Executive Producer Ken Olin announce the end of production of the pilot episode with a post on his Instagram profile.
Hilary Weisman Graham Tapped As Co-Showrunner
Social Distance creator Hilary Weisman Graham has been brought in as executive producer and co-showrunner of new CBS drama series The Never Game, starring and executive produced by Justin Hartley. Graham will share showrunning duties with executive producer Ben H. Winters, who wrote the pilot based on the bestselling novel by Jeffery Deaver.
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Chiara
Source: Deadline / TV Line
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Justin in an amazing actor. Can’t wait to see The Never Game.