ABC Is Benching Its Biggest Drama Until 2027 And Losing A Series Regular

Published Aug 21, 2026, 11:15 PM EDT

Cher Thompson is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, where she covers everything from explosive reality TV moments to cast interviews about the twists and turns of scripted dramas. With a background in creative writing, marketing, and teaching, Cher knows how to spot both the storytelling genius and the guilty pleasures in pop culture. Her work blends wit with insight, making readers feel like they’re chatting with a friend who just happens to know way too much about TV.

ABC is taking an interesting approach to its biggest hits in the coming season, with the fall 2026-2027 lineup excluding several of its biggest shows, one that will also be losing a core cast member as it heads into its next chapter. While ABC has shows running the gamut throughout its fall schedule, with reality shows, sitcoms, and dramas abound, some of its most highly-anticipated premieres will be held off until the 2027 mid-season. The mid-season strategy is one that ABC has been using for the past few years, after the 2023 industry strikes led to a lack of programming.

Though the mid-season strategy allows seasons to have fewer pauses with some of the network's shows, letting them run in near-sequential order, it creates longer hiatuses between seasons for fan-favorite shows. For the majority of the mid-season lineup, it will be roughly 8 months between the previous season finale and the next season's premiere, rather than the traditional four-month summer hiatus. With The Rookie, its spinoff, The Rookie: North, and Will Trent all in mid-season spots, viewers have been most vocal about the fact that one of ABC's highest performing shows, High Potential, is also getting the mid-season bump.

Although the wait is double for High Potential season 3, the Kaitlin Olson series based off a Franco-Belgian show called HPI, has some bigger surprises to work through when it returns to ABC. With a cast shake-up that could change things drastically, High Potential season 3's changing its format.

High Potential Season 3 Will Premiere In Early 2027 On ABC

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High Potential season 3, which will debut in January 2027, being held back from the ABC fall lineup is a tough blow for the successful series. After the first two seasons of the show broke viewership records and made it clear that High Potential worked as a concept for its audience, pushing the third season of the series further out than some would expect didn't make viewers happy. While the majority of ABC's other dramas, or at least comparable shows, have also been pushed to the mid-season mark, High Potential only doing so in its third season was a surprise.

Despite the fact that High Potential season 3 won't be back for an extended amount of time, the series did end on a precarious note, which has left audiences desperate to know what happens next. Olson's Morgan was still investigating the case of her missing ex, Roman, and though the mystery is still ongoing, a potentially fatal attack saw her pre-occupied with Nick Wagner (Steve Howey) when she reached a park where she was meant to meet up with an informant for more information. With Howey departing High Potential, things are changing for the series upon its return to ABC.

Why Steve Howey Isn't Returning For High Potential Season 3

ABC

After joining High Potential season 2 for a long-term arc, Howey won't be returning for the upcoming third season of the series. Howey, who's best known for his roles on Reba and Shameless, was an exciting addition to High Potential. Coming into the show as Wagner, the station's new captain, Howey was joining an ensemble cast who had already been through a season together, shaking up the dynamics. His agreement with the show, however, was only for a season, which made it possible that he wouldn't be returning to the series for another season unless contracts were re-negotiated or changed.

While it's possible that Wagner could return in the future, the end of High Potential season 2 made it seem possible that the character could be fatally wounded, which would ensure that his return to the series won't come to pass. With upcoming roles potentially keeping Howey busy, as he's recently appeared on Ransom Canyon, Off Campus, and will appear in The Lincoln Lawyer season 5, it's possible that another appearance on High Potential simply wasn't possible as his work piled up. Captain Wagner's time on the series may truly have come to a close with a purposeful story resolution.

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