Jensen Ackles as Russell Shaw in ‘Tracker.’ Sergei Bachlakov/CBS
Jensen Ackles discovered a solution to pay tribute to his iconic Supernatural character, Dean Winchester, whereas making his debut on Tracker.
Through the Sunday, Might 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 monitor 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 solution 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 must 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 ultimate 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 looking actions through the years.
JENSEN AND BABY I MEAN RUSSEL AND BABY #Tracker pic.twitter.com/ZKtJyaXzVe
— Rhiannon/AUSTINCON (@PadaleckiCordi) May 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 positively be taking one thing that I’ve had my eye on since day one among Supernatural,” he instructed Digital Spy in September 2020. “Nevertheless it’s OK, I’m not stealing it. I acquired permission. I begged and begged and pleaded for years, however I lastly acquired it this 12 months. They’re going to let me drive dwelling 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, they usually lastly added that to my contract this final season,” he shared on Michael Rosenbaum‘s “Inside You” podcast about how Padalecki was supplied the automotive’s double to take dwelling.
Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles not solely fashioned a detailed bond with one another whereas enjoying brothers Sam and Dean Winchester, respectively, on Supernatural, however in addition they cast an unbreakable reference to their followers. The actors led the CW drama for 15 seasons from September 2005 to November 2020. The duo have been the one solid […]
Ackles continued to search out success after Supernatural with visitor roles on tasks equivalent to Massive 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 predicted to play a serious function on CBS’ Tracker. Forward of his debut, viewers slowly realized 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 accountable for their father’s demise.
Russell supplied his aspect of the story throughout Sunday’s episode when he claimed there was another person within the woods the night time their dad died. Regardless of not absolutely making amends, Colter agreed to assist Russell as their investigation led to them digging into Particular Forces missions, shady off-the-books applications and conspiracy theories. Actually, 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 entire factor up. It’s essential that we get someone in there that’s only a juggernaut. Someone that you’d consider as a result of he’s gonna go toe-to-toe with Colter, in an excellent or unhealthy approach, and that you just additionally consider is his brother,’” the actor instructed 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 subsequent day on Paramount+.
