NameHigh PotentialCreatorDrew GoddardSeasons2Rotten Tomatoes (As of April 8, 2026)98%IMDb (As of April 8, 2026)7.5/10NetworkABC StreamingHulu
The High Potential Season 2 finale brought a major update for fans, as it also marked the end of Steve Howey’s run on the series. Howey, who joined in Season 2 as Nick Wagner, the new captain of the station, is set to exit the show ahead of Season 3. The news broke shortly after the finale aired, with Deadline reporting that Howey will not return as a series regular and that the Season 2 finale serves as his final appearance in that capacity.
While the exact reason for his departure has not been officially confirmed, reports suggest that his schedule is quite full. Howey currently has a major recurring role in Prime Video’s college-set romantic drama Off Campus, based on Elle Kennedy’s bestselling books. It has already been renewed for a second season.
He is also set to appear in Season 2 of Netflix’s Ransom Canyon and Season 5 of The Lincoln Lawyer. Additionally, his character received mixed reactions from viewers. It remains unclear whether his busy schedule, the divisive response, or both led to his exit.
Spoiler Alert !!!!!The following contains spoilers for High Potential Season 2 finale!!
What Happened to Steve Howey’s Nick Wagner in High Potential Season 2 Finale?
Steve Howey’s Nick Wagner has a dramatic and uncertain fate in the High Potential Season 2 finale. Introduced earlier in the season as the new captain of the LAPD’s Major Crimes division, Wagner often clashed with Morgan (Kaitlin Olson) due to his strict leadership style.
Over time, however, he began to trust her instincts and got pulled into a deeper, more dangerous storyline involving his father and the powerful Willa Quinn. As the season progressed, questions around his loyalty grew, especially as he tried to secretly investigate Willa while balancing pressure from his family.
In the finale, Wagner works closely with Morgan on both a murder case and the larger mystery surrounding Roman. While the team solves the case involving Vera Hensley’s death, Wagner helps Morgan confront Willa Quinn using illegal evidence.
This leads to a major revelation about Roman’s past, but it also raises the stakes and danger around them. The episode takes a shocking turn in its final moments. Wagner tells Morgan he’s meeting an FBI informant who has more information about Roman.
However, he lies about the meeting time and goes alone. When Morgan arrives, she finds him sitting on a bench, badly injured and barely conscious after being attacked. As she holds him and calls for help, the scene ends on a cliffhanger, leaving his fate unknown and putting his future in serious doubt.
Steve Howey Could Reportedly Return to High Potential Season 3
Morgan and Wagner in High Potential Season 2 | Credit: ABC
Steve Howey may not be gone from High Potential just yet. While the actor signed a one-year deal and has been confirmed to exit the series as a regular after Season 2, his story might not be completely over. Reports from Deadline suggest there is still a chance for Howey to return in Season 3 as a guest star, possibly to properly wrap up Nick Wagner’s arc.
His potential return feels likely, especially since his character’s fate in the Season 2 finale was left unclear. However, any comeback depends on the show’s new creative direction.
Former showrunner Todd Harthan has stepped away to focus on Eragon, the live-action adaptation of Christopher Paolini’s The Inheritance Cycle (Deadline). With High Potential still searching for a new showrunner, the decision about Wagner’s future is still up in the air. For now, a guest appearance remains possible, but not guaranteed.
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High Potential is streaming on Hulu.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
