In 2008, he returned to Smallville as a regular cast member, following the departures of Kristin Kreuk, Michael Rosenbaum, Laura Vandervoort, and John Glover.

[10] After Smallville, Hartley starred opposite Mamie Gummer in The CW comedy-drama Emily Owens, M.D., but the show was cancelled after one season.

He also guest-starred on Chuck, Castle, and Hart of Dixie, and from 2013 to 2014, he had a recurring role as Victoria Grayson's (Madeleine Stowe) illegitimate son, Patrick Osbourne, on the ABC primetime soap opera Revenge.

[11] In February 2014, Hartley landed the lead role of Tim opposite Anna Camp in the ABC comedy pilot Damaged Goods, but the show was never picked up to series.

[12] In March 2014 he was cast in a recurring role in the second season of the ABC drama series Mistresses as plastic surgeon Scott Trosman, a love interest for Josslyn Carver (Jes Macallan).

[19] In August 2020, Hartley signed on to star and executive produce a film adaptation of The Noel Diary, based on the novel of the same name.

On May 6, 2012, after eight years of marriage, it was announced that she had filed for divorce in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, citing "irreconcilable differences".