CBS’s ‘Tracker’ Secures $48M California Tax Credit Boost, Enhancing Production Prospects

One of television’s most popular shows is making California its new home base.

The hit CBS drama “Tracker,” starring Justin Hartley, has been a ratings powerhouse since its premiere in 2024. Now, it’s moving its production from Vancouver to Los Angeles for its fourth season, bolstered by a record-breaking $48 million tax credit from California—the largest ever granted to a TV series.

This strategic relocation, which has been in the planning stages for some time, represents a significant victory for California’s struggling film and television sector, which has faced declining production in recent years. The series’ producer, 20th Television, is securing filming locations in the Los Angeles area, with shooting scheduled to commence in late June.

Justin Hartley, who not only stars as the enigmatic survival expert Colter Shaw but also serves as a co-executive producer, expressed his enthusiasm about the transition.

“Our time in Vancouver was incredible, and I’m proud of what we achieved there. Bringing ‘Tracker’ to Los Angeles is really exciting,” Hartley shared with Deadline. “I’m eager to keep telling these stories and exploring the new, dynamic settings that LA will provide.”

The series, based on Jeffery Deaver’s bestselling novel “The Never Game,” follows Shaw as he travels the country in an RV tracking missing persons and solving crimes for reward money.

Its remote, wilderness-heavy storytelling lends itself to filming outside the Greater Los Angeles 30-mile zone — qualifying it for an extra 5% bonus on top of the base 35% credit under California’s incentive program.

Showrunner and executive producer Elwood Reid told Deadline of the benefits of the move while showing appreciation to Vancouver’s crew.

“Location is a huge part of the storytelling on ‘Tracker,’” Reid told the outlet. “We’re so grateful to the crew and people of Vancouver who made the first three seasons of this hit drama possible, and are simultaneously thrilled to be able to kick off the fourth season of ‘Tracker’ by filming in Los Angeles, thanks to the tax incentive program that supports bringing production back to California.”

The $48 million credit tops previous big awards, including the $42 million given to Season 3 of Amazon’s “Fallout” and the $42.8 million for another 20th Television project, the upcoming NFL drama “The Land.”

For Los Angeles film and TV crews still feeling the effects of industry slowdowns that seemed to start during Covid shutdowns, the relocation means jobs, local spending, and a boost to businesses that support film and TV production.

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