High Potential is coming back — with more episodes — but what can fans expect from season 2 when it comes to plot twists, onscreen romance and more?
High Potential, which premiered in September 2024, follows a high-potential intellectual named Morgan (Kaitlin Olson) who teams up with the LAPD to help solve murders. She gets paired up with Karadec (Daniel Sunjata), who is initially skeptical about how Morgan can assist the Major Crimes unit but ultimately starts to rely on her.
The season 1 finale aired in February and confirmed that Morgan’s ex Roman was still alive after going missing for more than a decade. Morgan, however, was more focused on a new case where the suspect got away — and then he found a way to introduce himself to her without her knowledge.
Executive producer and showrunner Todd Harthan exclusively spoke to Us Weekly about the purpose of introducing a new mystery ahead of the second season.
“The No. 1 thing that we try to build in the writers room is a compelling case that will also be really wonderful to watch Morgan’s complicated brain take you through,” he explained at the time. “That then is complimented by these wonderful detectives that are surrounding her. We know the audience — and we as the writers — have a big appetite for that serialized mystery. But the challenge is you don’t want that serialized component to overtake these wonderful cases that the audience looks forward to every week.”
Harthan continued: “Finding that balance is tricky and that’s why you have a staff of people that come in and keep you honest. They tell me, ‘If we reveal that, then it really overtakes the next episode and upsets the balance.’ So it’s tricky and it is one of the harder parts of building each episode of the show.”
In January, High Potential was renewed for a second season, which will include 18 episodes. It is slated to premiere in the fall after season 1 brought in record-breaking numbers at ABC.
In addition to Olson and Sunjata, Javicia Leslie, Deniz Akdeniz, Amirah J, Matthew Lamb and Judy Reyes are returning. High Potential has also featured Taran Killam, Garret Dillahunt and JD Pardo in recurring roles. Meanwhile newcomers include Steve Howey and Mekhi Phifer.
“I do listen to the fans, I read their responses because I want to know what people are loving. It does have an impact on what we talk about and what we focus on sometimes,” Harthan told Us in February about getting the chance to expand the story with more episodes in season 2. “I always count on the 13 [episode order]. I love that it’s not eight or 10 episodes on broadcast and that you get those extra few hours. I usually map out the 13, and if they call, then I have a contingency to expand it and do some standalone episodes.”
After Morgan’s ex was teased in the first season, the story will only expand from here.
“We’ve talked about it quite a bit like, ‘Wow, we have the time, and hopefully now the show is a success and we could go and get this actor or that actor.’ But the truth is, I haven’t had a deep conversation with Kaitlin about it — and she’ll have a strong opinion. She’s very active and involved with casting and has incredible instincts,” Harthan told Us. “So the short answer is no. We have some favorites and actors I really respect that would be great.”
Harthan is looking forward to bringing more characters into the fold in season 2, adding, “Just the casting opportunities — not just for guest star roles — but recurring roles. We’ve never met Morgan’s mother and father either. We haven’t met anybody. So Roman is a really important and amazing piece of casting. I fantasize about who it could be but I haven’t zeroed in on a person yet.”
According to Harthan, Olson has a hand in casting. “Kaitlin is a magnet for talent. There’s a lot of people that go, ‘Oh, I get to act alongside her? That looks like a really good time.’ And they are right, It is,” he continued. “She’s a blast. But I hope you’re right [that there is actor interest in guest-starring on High Potential]. I want to see that list of people that want to come and dance with us.”
Roman might not return right away though.
“I think frustration is a good thing with an audience. It is a healthy frustration — don’t give them too much of what they want too soon,” Harthan noted about the “deepening” mystery. “I’d be totally lying if I said I have all the answers to that mystery. The wonderful thing about welcoming other brains to the room is how we make sure we don’t fumble this ball and we tell this story in the most satisfying way imaginable. There’s some cool stuff coming though.”
