Jason Ritter Calls on Justin Hartley for Help in Tracker
Jason Ritter continues to pursue a role in Tracker, even if it involves playing a “damsel in distress” saved by Justin Hartley.
“Justin and I are very friendly. I really love him. He’s such a nice guy,” Ritter, 46, shared exclusively with Us Weekly, while proposing a potential crossover between Tracker and Matlock. “Julian is going to be looking for new positions, so maybe he can train me in his tracking ways and I can assist him in finding some people.”
Matlock, which debuted in September 2024, features a wealthy retired lawyer named Madeline Kingston (Kathy Bates), who disguises herself as a poor widower named Matty Matlock to secure a position at Jacobson Moore law firm.
On the other hand, Tracker follows Hartley’s character, Colter Shaw, as he resolves missing persons cases for a reward.
“If Tracker ever needs a partner for Colter, maybe Julian leaves the firm and starts a new life,” Ritter quipped to Us Weekly in August 2025. “Just two rugged guys.”
At that time, Ritter’s co-star Skye P. Marshall commented on his idea.
“Jason comes to set now, and he squints his eyes and tries to play a rugged guy. We’re like, ‘Can you please stop?’” she joked in September 2025. “He’ll put his foot up on the chair and squint as if he’s James Dean. It makes my stomach churn. I was like, ‘You’re not a rugged guy, OK?’”
Marshall still hopes to see Ritter share the screen with Hartley, 59. “But I feel like he’d be the one to get kidnapped,” she quipped. “Please don’t give Jason Ritter a gun.”
Ritter humorously agreed with Marshall’s observation, stating to Us, “She’s probably right. Who knows? It’s TV, so anything can happen. A guy like me can be a hero on TV, but in real life, if I were on Tracker, I’d be like, ‘Alright, I’ve got these guys … Oh no, one snuck up behind me, and that’s the end for me. Save me, please. I’ve made this mission 20 times harder by getting captured.’”
After sharing that he is “very good at being someone who needs saving,” Us suggested Ritter step in as Hartley’s “next damsel in distress.”
“There you go,” Ritter responded. “Anytime, Justin.”
Tracker airs on CBS Sundays at 9 p.m. ET and is available for streaming the following day on Paramount+.
