There is no doubt that we would love to see a Tracker spinoff that’s focused on Russell Shaw. However, with Jensen Ackles in Countdown on Prime Video, it does make things difficult.
It doesn’t necessarily make a spinoff impossible, but there are a few considerations to make. It’s not just this current series that could cause problems for Ackles and a Tracker spinoff, either!
Countdown season 2 hasn’t been confirmed yet
One thing to note is that Prime Video hasn’t renewed Countdown for a second season yet. If the second season doesn’t happen, the entire point is moot. After all, there is little that could cause a major filming conflict for the Supernatural vet.
It’s hard to say if the series will be renewed or not. There has been a huge promotional push for this one by Amazon, but I haven’t seen too many discussions about it online. Of course, not all show audiences are vocal, and there could be a lot of silent watchers.
The series is only halfway through it first season, so there is time for Amazon to make a decision. I wouldn’t rule it out just yet.
If the show is renewed, it does make filming for both Countdown and a Tracker spinoff tricky, especially if CBS wants to make it a full-season series. Filming for a broadcast show takes most months of the year, and it’s not clear if Ackles is even interested in doing that anymore. At least with a streaming show, it’s just half of the year or so at the most.
Jensen Ackles is also filming The Boys spinoff Vought Rising
It’s not like Countdown is Ackles’s only project. He has just finished filming The Boys season 5, and he will be the male lead in Vought Rising, the prequel spinoff that will also star Aya Cash. This is going to take months of work, so it could make the idea of a Tracker spinoff much harder.
On top of that, Ackles has a production company of his own and he has a first-look deal with Amazon. If CBS wanted to bring a spinoff focused on Russell Shaw, there would likely need to be some deals made to make it possible.
It’s not impossible, though. Ackles did star in Big Sky season 4 while working on other projects, although he wasn’t starring in as many others as he is now. Big Sky was a reduced season order compared to other broadcast shows, so if CBS would be willing to do that, it could all work out.
As of right now, there doesn’t seem to be any intention of a Russell spinoff in the world of Tracker. This is all just wishful thinking.
Countdown airs on Wednesdays on Prime Video.
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