Colter's OG Team Return Status In Tracker Season 4 Confirmed By Showrunner

EXCLUSIVE: The return of Tracker's original cast gets a candid response from showrunner and executive producer Elwood Reid.

Tracker season 4 is finally premiering on CBS in October, though it will look a little different compared to the scant ensemble of the previous installment. Two of the show's familiar faces have been upgraded to series regulars, potentially taking the central mystery in a new direction. But even as the Justin Hartley drama expands its supporting players, there are still questions about whether Tracker's original cast will ever reunite.

In an interview with ScreenRant's Grant Hermanns to discuss Tracker season 4, which debuts Sunday, October 4 at 9:30 PM ET on CBS, Reid was asked about whether viewers might again see Teddi, Velma, and Bobby after their respective departures from the procedural. The showrunner and executive producer responded candidly, revealing that the story “has kind of moved past that a little bit” and adding that the writers are currently focusing on developing new characters, such as Mel Day and Randy. Still, in the quote below, Reid doesn't completely rule out a return:

Elwood Reid: The story kind of moved past that a little bit. One of the things that we're doing this season is we're resetting the office with Reenie and Mel, a character that was introduced last year, and then , of course, Randy, and we're going to go deeper into their worlds. I personally think that we haven't done enough with them as they relate to culture. So, one of the goals, as far as the writers go this year, is just trying to build more of that. It's essentially a family. All TV shows become families, and I think the audience want to learn about their families, stuff that happens outside of work. So, that's been the goal. But, I never say never as far as Bobby and Velma and Teddi go. It's possible, it just hasn't come up right now.

In the run-up to the premiere of new episodes, Tracker's returning characters have indeed gained more prominence. Randy, the hacking expert played by Chris Lee, is now a series regular. The same goes for Melanie Day, played by Cassady McClincy Zhang, who was introduced as the assistant to Reenie (played by Fiona Rene).

Their elevated status points to an increasing importance for Reenie, the one regular mainstay on the series besides Hartley's Colter Shaw. She's also getting a potential love interest, who will be portrayed byThe Vampire Diaries actor Michael Malarkey in a recurring role. Others are convinced that Mel's presence points to unlocking Tracker's secrets.

Velma (Abby McEnany) and Bobby (Eric Graise) both left the procedural at the end of season 2. Bobby was seeking out a new job. Velma's exit was more personal. She left to reunite with Teddi (Robin Weigert) and attempt to fix their strained relationship, closing the loop on the CBS hit's first headline-grabbing, albeit entirely off-screen, farewell.

Mel and Randy were both brought in as a direct response to the cast changes, and Randy is even Bobby's cousin. That should make an eventual Tracker guest appearance easier to pull off. Still, for now, the focus will be on welcoming Jensen Ackles back into the fold as Russell Shaw, Colter's older brother. Ackles will reprise the role in episode 5.

Tracker season 4 premieres Sunday, October 4 at 9:30 PM ET on CBS and streams on Paramount+.