ABC Copies CBS Tracker Formula With Two New Shows
ABC is building its own version of the Tracker empire. The network is developing two new procedural series that closely mirror the hit CBS show starring Justin Hartley, betting big on a formula that has drawn millions of viewers since 2024.
Why Is ABC Replicating the Tracker Model?
Tracker has been a ratings powerhouse for CBS since its debut, averaging 17.3 million viewers per episode in 2025, according to The Hollywood Reporter. In television, success breeds imitation, and ABC is making its move.
The network is releasing two series that follow the same unconventional crime solver format that made Tracker a standout. Free market competition drives innovation, and ABC clearly sees an opening to capture viewers who want more of what Tracker delivers.
What Is Justin Hartley's New ABC Series?
Hartley himself is helping ABC build its Tracker inspired slate. He is developing a new series called A Forgotten Kill, an adaptation of Isabella Maldonado's 2024 novel of the same name. Hartley is executive producing the series under his Change Up Productions banner, in a deal with 20th Television, the same partnership that produces CBS's Tracker.
A Forgotten Kill follows an ex-Army Ranger named Dani Vega, described as a Nuyorican from the Lower East Side and a dauntless FBI agent. Vega specializes in breaking codes and detecting patterns, a skill set that mirrors Hartley's Colter Shaw character in Tracker, a trained tracker and survivalist.
Vega will partner with an NYPD detective named Mark Flint on a task force. Like many police procedurals, the two will clash in their investigative styles while sharing undeniable chemistry.
Ken Olin, an executive producer and primary director for Tracker, is also on board as an executive producer for A Forgotten Kill. Maldonado, Hartley, and Diana Son, who is set to write the series, round out the executive production team. Maldonado's novel is one of three stories featuring Dani Vega, who, like Colter Shaw, is haunted by a family secret.
What Is The Naturalist on ABC?
ABC is not stopping with A Forgotten Kill. The network is also developing The Naturalist for its fall 2026 roster, based on Andrew Mayne's book of the same name.
The Naturalist follows a brilliant but socially estranged biologist who uses the laws of animal behavior to hunt human predators. Like Tracker's Colter Shaw, The Naturalist features an unconventional crime solver with dark secrets who turns every case into a study of himself, according to Variety.
The project brings significant talent behind the camera. Andrew Karlsruher of MacGyver and CSI: Cyber is set to write the series. Danny Cannon, who directed the original CSI pilot, is executive producing alongside Peter Jaysen and Alan Gasmer of Veritas Entertainment, with Andy Cuter as a producer. Karlsruher was also a producer on CBS's Bull, starring Michael Weatherly of NCIS.
Is Tracker Still Going Strong on CBS?
Tracker is not going anywhere. Season 4 is on the way, and Hartley remains actively involved in its production. The show continues to be one of the most watched series on network television.
ABC's strategy is clear. Rather than reinventing the wheel, the network is replicating a proven formula that resonates with American audiences. Whether viewers will embrace these new entries the same way they embraced Tracker remains to be seen, but the business logic is sound.
What Does This Mean for Network TV Viewers?
Iowa viewers and audiences nationwide can expect more unconventional crime solvers on their screens in 2026. If you enjoy Tracker's blend of wilderness survival skills and crime solving, ABC is betting you will tune in for similar content.
The real question is whether ABC can deliver the same quality and authenticity that made Tracker a cultural phenomenon. Audiences are smart, and they know the difference between a genuine hit and a cheap imitation.