While his show goes through some pretty big ones changes behind the scenesJustin Hartley is branching out.
Hartley, who stars in the CBS primetime drama Trackeris developing a 2024 television adaptation of the Isabella Maldonado novel A forgotten murder for ABC, Deadline reports. He will produce the show through this overall deal at 20th TV.
He is teaming up with Diana Son, who will write and produce the drama, as well as EPs Ken Olin, who will direct, and Maldonado.
The show follows former Army Ranger Dani Vega, a Lower East Side Nuyorican and FBI agent whose specialty is breaking codes and spotting patterns. Dani teams up with NYPD Detective Mark Flint, whose style clashes so much with hers that it somehow gives them an edge in solving crimes. Dani is haunted by a family tragedy that returns from her past to jeopardize her career.
Hartley’s move to A forgotten murder comes, while he simultaneously stars and executive produces Trackerwhich boasts the title of the most-watched entertainment series on network television. The hit was renewed for a fourth season, but Deadline reported this spring that the show will move filming to Los Angeles after filming the first three seasons in Vancouver. The show was awarded a $48 million tax credit on $129 million in qualified expenses, prompting its move. Season 4 is scheduled to begin filming in late June.
Hartley said at the time that the big move to California won’t change anything about the show.
“I’m proud of what we built in Vancouver. I’m also very excited about what we’re bringing Tracker to LA,” he said. “I look forward to continuing to tell these stories along with the new, fresh places we’re going next. Most importantly, I want to thank the fans for showing up for us every step of the way. We couldn’t do this without you.”
Television shows can earn an additional 5% tax credit bonus — on top of the base 35% credit — for qualified expenses incurred outside the 30-mile zone that covers the Greater Los Angeles area and surrounding communities.
Relocation tax credits are awarded to shows for their expected outsized economic benefit, creating jobs in Los Angeles-based crews and local businesses boosted by returning production.
Based on the novel by Jeffery Deaver The Never Game, Tracker follows Hartley’s Colter around the country as he helps find missing persons and solve mysterious cases. It is the largest series to be brought back to California using a tax credit. Before that, Prime Video’s Fallout moved from New York to Los Angeles while Dan Fogelman’s upcoming NFL drama, The countrygot a tax credit of $42.8 million.
