High Potential is returning for a 3rd season — but not everyone seems to be coming back after that surprise solid exit.
The hit ABC series, which premiered in September 2024, follows Morgan (Kaitlin Olson), a high-potential mental who teams up with the LAPD to help the department in solving murders. Morgan gets paired up with Karadec (Daniel Sunjata), who’s initially skeptical about her ability to help the Major Crimes unit but ultimately starts to depend on her.
Before season 2 got here to an end in April 2026, news broke that showrunner Todd Harthan exited the show, originally created by Drew Goddard. The pilot was written by Goddard, who was expected to executive produce alongside Sarah Esberg, Rob Thomas, Dan Etheridge, Pierre Laugier, Anthony Lancret, Jean Nainchrik and Alethea Jones.
Thomas, meanwhile, was expected to serve because the showrunner before exiting in June 2024 — months before the series’ premiere. Harthan was ultimately announced as the brand new showrunner, who also served as an executive producer.
Harthan teased the vision for the series while chatting with Us Weekly in January 2026.
“It’s a fairly bumpy ride. We’re going to start out unpacking some pretty intense things with Morgan, because it pertains to all things Roman,” he said on the time. “There are all types of trials and tribulations which might be going to occur with the youngsters at home. It’s just going to get messy and sophisticated — hopefully in all the perfect ways in order that the audience stays on the sting of their seats.”
He concluded, “Our job now as we get to the back half of the second season is to fill in a number of the big blanks and progress a number of the relationships. You’re going to see some intense things occur between Steve Howey’s character and Captain Wagner really starts to bloom within the back half. That causes some good soapy messes on multiple fronts. It’s just our normal MO of just attempting to mix things up and keep the audience engaged and keep them guessing.”
The most important cliffhanger, nevertheless, was whether Wagner (Steve Howey) was dead or alive amid the actor’s exit from the show.
Keep scrolling to see which High Potential stars are — and aren’t — returningfor season 3:
Kaitlin Olson
There wouldn’t be High Potential without Morgan, so it’s secure to say Kaitlin Olson shall be back in season 3.
Daniel Sunjata
Karadec’s love life took a success in season 2, so expect to see how that’s addressed on screen.
Javicia Leslie
Javicia Leslie’s character Daphne is returning for more episodes of the hit ABC procedural.
Deniz Akdeniz
As Daphne solves more cases, she is predicted to have her partner Oz by her side.
Judy Reyes
Judy Reyes pulled double duty with Scrubs and season 2 of High Potential, so there isn’t a doubt she is returning too.
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Amirah J
Ava received more of a job to play on the show as her missing dad, Roman, appeared to make an appearance within the season 2 finale.
Matthew Lamb
Same as Ava, Morgan’s son, Elliot, will play an enormous role in season 3.
Steve Howey
Howey joined the crime drama in June 2025 as a series regular for a one-year deal. His character was ultimately shot within the season 2 finale. That – combined with the actor being solid on other shows in the course of the same time period — hinted at a everlasting exit, but it surely stays unclear what is going to occur to Wagner.
Taran Killam
Taran Killam is predicted to return as Morgan’s ex (and coparent) in season 3.
Mekhi Phifer
Mekhi Phifer joined season 2 as a friend of Roman’s, but it surely isn’t clear if he shall be coming back.