'High Potential' Loses Main Character After Shocking Season 2 Finale Twist

The actor has been cast in upcoming seasons of other shows, hinting at a permanent departure.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 5:37am

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An abstract close-up image of shattered glass and cracked leather textures in high-contrast black and white, conveying a sense of dramatic tension and uncertainty surrounding a major plot development in the TV series.The shocking season finale of 'High Potential' leaves fans wondering about the fate of a central character and the show's future direction.Ransom Canyon Today

The Tuesday, April 7 finale of the drama series 'High Potential' showed the character of Wagner getting shot, with his fate left unclear. However, it has now been confirmed that the actor who plays Wagner, Howey, will not be returning as a series regular in the show's upcoming third season.

Why it matters

The loss of a main character is a significant development for the show, as Wagner was a central figure who had been introduced earlier in the second season. Fans will be eager to see how the series handles the character's exit and whether there is any possibility of Howey returning in a guest role to wrap up Wagner's storyline.

The details

Howey, who joined the show this season, was only expected to be a one-year deal. While Wagner's ultimate fate remains uncertain, Howey has already been cast in upcoming seasons of the shows 'Off Campus' and 'Ransom Canyon', indicating his time as a 'High Potential' series regular has come to an end. The show's creator, Drew Goddard, had previously expected Rob Thomas to serve as showrunner before he exited in June 2024, just months before the series premiere. Todd Harthan was then announced as the new showrunner, but he has now also departed the show to focus on the upcoming live-action adaptation of the YA book series 'The Inheritance Cycle'.

  • The season 2 finale of 'High Potential' aired on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
  • Howey joined the show earlier in season 2.
  • Harthan exited 'High Potential' in March 2026 to work on the 'Eragon' adaptation.

The players

Wagner

A main character on the drama series 'High Potential' who was apparently killed off in the season 2 finale.

Howey

The actor who portrayed the character of Wagner and has been cast in upcoming seasons of other shows, indicating his departure from 'High Potential'.

Drew Goddard

The creator of the drama series 'High Potential'.

Rob Thomas

The original showrunner for 'High Potential' who exited the show in June 2024, months before its premiere.

Todd Harthan

The showrunner who took over 'High Potential' after Thomas' departure, but has now also left the show to focus on the 'Eragon' adaptation.

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What they’re saying

“Nick comes in and does ruffle some feathers. But his motives and his intentions are not to do that. He wants to help and we start seeing that in different episodes.”

— Howey, Actor

“That was my fear and my concern. When you have such a lightning in the bottle strong dynamic of these characters, throwing in another character can potentially thrown that off. I'm still working on not doing that. This is going to evolve into something really cool. We don't know about the chemistry with Nick and Morgan. Obviously there is . But as he's incrementally gaining more trust with the department, hopefully it gets better and better.”

— Howey, Actor

“The first season was amazing. It is not your usual procedure. I love the insert shots and I love their style. But I have friends in real life that are police officers and are part of the sheriff's department. So I talked to them and they definitely made fun of me because that's what they do.”

— Howey, Actor

“I'm taking my own leeway a little bit about who this guy is and that comes from the writers about who his family is and how they were in law enforcement and now in politics. So he has something to prove to the department and to himself. So it's fun to work on it and see what comes out of it.”

— Howey, Actor

“The badge. I was like, 'Does he get a badge?' So I'm walking around like a little boy that has a new fireman's hat on. I have the badge on my hip and I am flipping up my jacket. I'm in the mirror showing off for myself.”

— Howey, Actor

What’s next

Wagner's fate will be decided by a new showrunner, who has yet to be announced. The show's creator, Drew Goddard, is expected to remain involved, but the departure of both Rob Thomas and Todd Harthan as showrunners leaves the future direction of 'High Potential' uncertain.

The takeaway

The loss of a main character like Wagner is a significant development for 'High Potential', and the show's ability to maintain momentum and fan interest will depend on how it handles the character's exit and the transition to new creative leadership.