High Potential Boss Teases Steve Howey's Captain Wagner Return

Showrunner Todd Harthan promises answers about the character's true nature in Season 2

Feb. 19, 2026 at 3:55am

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High Potential showrunner Todd Harthan has teased that fans will soon uncover the true nature of Captain Nick Wagner, played by Steve Howey, before the show's second season is through. Harthan explained that the character's recent absence was to allow other storylines to breathe, but that Wagner will be returning soon, and when he does, the audience will get a much clearer picture of who he really is and where his loyalties lie.

Why it matters

Captain Wagner's arrival in the LAPD's Major Crimes unit has been a source of mystery and suspicion, as he has been seen as a threat to the position of Morgan (Kaitlin Olson) and has had questionable ties to the FBI. Unraveling his true motivations and character will be a key storyline as the second season of High Potential progresses.

The details

Showrunner Todd Harthan noted that the show went on a 'mini hiatus' with Steve Howey's character to allow other storylines, such as the arrival of Karadec's (Daniel Sunjata) former fiancée Lucia (Susan Kelechi Watson), to breathe. However, Harthan promised that when Wagner returns, 'the audience is going to really start to see in a very clear way who he is.' Harthan teased that the show will reveal 'what makes him tick, why he's there, what his agenda really is, where his loyalties lie,' as the other characters, including Morgan, Karadec, and Soto (Judy Reyes), try to determine if he can be trusted.

  • High Potential's second season will return soon on ABC.

The players

Todd Harthan

The showrunner of High Potential who teased details about Steve Howey's character Captain Nick Wagner.

Steve Howey

The actor who plays Captain Nick Wagner on the show High Potential.

Kaitlin Olson

The actress who plays Morgan on High Potential.

Daniel Sunjata

The actor who plays Karadec on High Potential.

Susan Kelechi Watson

The actress who plays Lucia, Karadec's former fiancée and current girlfriend, on High Potential.

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What they’re saying

“We went on a little bit of a mini hiatus with him to buy ourselves some real estate to let the Lucia of it all breathe, and some other things breathe. He's coming back soon, and once he comes back into the fold, I think the audience is going to really start to see in a very clear way who he is.”

— Todd Harthan, Showrunner

“what makes him tick, why he's there, what his agenda really is, where his loyalties lie, all those wonderful [questions that] our own characters, Morgan, Karadec, Soto, and everybody, [are] asking about who this guy is and whether or not they can trust him is going to become really crystal clear in the back half.”

— Todd Harthan, Showrunner

“I think people will be really surprised about where this character goes and how we close out the season as it relates to the kind of captain he is, and really clears up the gray. He becomes far more black and white by the end of the season.”

— Todd Harthan, Showrunner

What’s next

High Potential's second season will return soon on ABC, so fans will have to tune in to see how Captain Wagner's storyline unfolds.

The takeaway

The mystery surrounding Captain Nick Wagner's true nature and motivations has been a key part of High Potential's second season. Showrunner Todd Harthan's tease that the audience will get a much clearer picture of who Wagner really is by the end of the season suggests that this will be a major storyline as the show progresses, with the potential for some surprising revelations about the character.