‘High Potential’ Officially Won’t Return Until 2027

ABC is running with a bit of a lighter schedule this fall. R.J. Decker has already wrapped up its short seven-episode sophomore season, leaving just 9-1-1, 9-1-1: Nashville, Grey’s Anatomy, and the comedy duo of Scrubs and Abbott Elementary among its scripted programming. The Disney-owned network has some of its biggest series saved for the midseason, including new seasons of The Rookie and Will Trent, which have been regular fixtures in the spring, as well as buzzy newcomers The Rookie: North and an untitled Grey’s spin-off. Easily the most surprising move, however, was the decision to hold back High Potential.

Since bursting onto the scene in 2024, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Kaitlin Olson has been one of network television’s most popular detectives. After ruling all of broadcast television in viewers in the 2024-25 season, Morgan Gillory’s sophomore outing as an unlikely crime solver ended as the far and away leader in the key 18-49 demographic, going neck-and-neck with CBS’ juggernaut one-two punch of Tracker and Marshals overall, with 16 million viewers tuning in over 35 days across all platforms. Despite that, the network ultimately decided to shake up the formula, meaning no new episodes until 2027. It’s not an unusual move, considering how The Rookie and Will Trent have fared, but it is nonetheless a change of pace that will have viewers waiting until after the Super Bowl for the next case.

The good news is that the wait won’t be long after the Lombardi Trophy is handed out for High Potential Season 3. ABC’s megahit procedural will air a special episode right after Super Bowl LXI concludes on Sunday, February 14. While the network hasn’t unveiled its entire midseason schedule, that time slot will put an especially massive spotlight on the series coming off a Season 2 finale with a lot of loose ends. Ultimately, the extra wait might be for the best, considering High Potential is undergoing a bit of a creative overhaul. Nora and Lilla Zuckerman, who previously worked on Rian Johnson‘s Poker Face and were tapped to co-write Scream 8, officially took over as showrunners following Todd Harthan‘s exit.

What to Expect From ‘High Potential’ Season 3

Created by Drew Goddard, High Potential has followed Morgan as she’s risen from an LAPD cleaner with an IQ of 160 to a civilian consultant and recognized member of the team for her ability to unconventionally solve the most complex cases. Her approach has made her the perfect partner for the otherwise by-the-books Adam Karadec (Daniel Sunjata), whom she’s grown closer and closer to throughout her work. Season 2 ended on a particularly bloody note, with Steve Howey‘s Captain Wagner being left for dead after a brutal stabbing. His fate is up in the air, but whether he survives or not, the actor will be stepping back for this season. The appearance of a shadowy figure at Ava’s art show also left everyone asking if Roman had actually made an appearance and if he’d finally properly show his face in Season 3.

High Potential returns early next year following the Super Bowl. Stay tuned here at Collider for more details as it draws closer.