High Potential Wiki
High Potential Wiki
The New Face of Investigation
68
pages
in: High Potential

High Potential

Edit

High Potential is an American Mystery-Drama series from ABC, streaming next-day on Hulu. The series, starring Kaitlin Olson, is based on the popular French series Haut Potentiel Intellectuel. It premiered on September 17, 2024.

On January 21, 2025, the series was renewed for a second season.[1]

Synopsis[]

Written by Drew Goddard (“The Good Place,” “The Martian”) and starring Kaitlin Olson, “High Potential” follows a single mom with an exceptional mind, whose unconventional knack for solving crimes leads to an unusual and unstoppable partnership with a by-the-book seasoned detective (Daniel Sunjata). Based on the popular French series “Haut Potentiel Intellectuel (HPI),” “High Potential” stars Kaitlin Olson as Morgan, Daniel Sunjata as Karadec, Javicia Leslie as Daphne, Deniz Akdeniz as Lev “Oz” Ozdil, Amirah J as Ava, Matthew Lamb as Elliot, and Judy Reyes as Selena.

ABC Signature produces “High Potential.” Drew Goddard and Sarah Esberg of Goddard Textiles and Todd Harthan serve as executive producers. Kaitlin Olson serves as producer.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest Starring[]

Seasons[]

Production[]

The news of Drew Goddard's developing series began to circulate on September 15, 2022. Goddard had penned an overall deal at ABC Signature, and the upcoming Pilot series stemmed from this deal. The series, based on TFi's HPI, was reported as a standout for ABC and was eyed for a fall "second cycle" round of Pilot pickups. The series was a frontrunner for the 2023-2024 television season. Drew Goddard and Sarah Esberg of Goddard Textiles executive produce alongside Pierre Laugier, Anthony Lancret, and Jean Nainchrik of Newen Connect, the distribution company which sold the rights of the French series to ABC Signature.[2]

On September 20, 2022, Drew Goddard's hourlong character procedural drama 'HIP' was given a Pilot order on ABC. It reportedly evoked Good Will Hunting and was written by Goddard.[3]

During the Upfronts buzz on May 4, 2023, the 2023 Writers Guild of America strikes reportedly impacted the 2023 Pilot season for new scripted series, as the networks faced the possibility of drawn out productions due to the strikes. However, the sharp decrease in Pilots since the 2020 pandemic gave the networks few choices in what it could order. ABC was reportedly still keen on Drew Goddard's hourlong character-based procedural, now starring Kaitlin Olson. It was described as a "remake of the French series Haut Potentiel Intellectuel."[4]

On May 16, 2023, ABC handed High Potential a 10-episode series order. The series, now starring Kaitlin Olson as Morgan, was the only pilot that ABC decided about before the upfront. The cast also included Javicia Leslie as Daphne, Deniz Akdeniz as Lev “Oz” Osman (later renamed "Ozdil", Amirah J as Ava, Matthew Lamb as Elliot, and Judy Reyes as Selena. Rob Thomas was tapped as showrunner and executive producer alongside Dan Etheridge of Spondoolie Productions, as well as Pierre Laugier and Anthony Lancret of Itinéraire Productions, a UGC company and Jean Nainchrik of Septembre Productions, a Mediawan Company. Alethea Jones is a director and executive producer. Kaitlin Olson serves as producer. ABC Signature, a part of Disney Television Studios, is the studio.[5]

On July 31, 2023, the team behind High Potential and HPI did an interview with Deadline where they spoke about helping Goddard adapt the series. The hopes for the series were high, as they wanted to catapult the brand to "global brand" status. The French series was already available in more than 100 territories, but Newen Connect CEO Rodolphe Buet was convinced the series would travel well to the USA. There were several US studios interested in the remake, with Buet fielding around 50 callers, but ABC was the ultimate home for the remake as, "we felt that their engagement was deep and not just artificial." The French producers were in collaborations from a business and creative standpoint, but weren't involved too heavily in the editorial. The French and American pilots would closely follow the same storylines, while ABC honored the French roots by keeping some of the character names the same. This was a surprise to the French producers, who were proud the typical French names were kept. Ultimately, they hoped the American version would continue to push boundaries while delivering the traditional detective story viewers enjoyed.[6]

On September 29, 2023, following the resolution of the WGA strikes, ABC moved High Potential from its Spring 2024 slot to Fall 2024. The move was primarily because of the Screen Actors Guild going on strike, which meant the series couldn't film in time for the 2023-2024 season.[7] The boss of ABC, Craig Erwich, called High Potential “one of the best ABC shows I’ve seen since I’ve been there”. ABC was the only network to pick up Pilots for the 2024-2025 season.[8]

The first teaser for the series premiered on May 14, 2024.[9]

During High Potential's pre-planned production hiatus, Rob Thomas exited as showrunner on June 5, 2024, which kicked off ABC's search for a new showrunner. Sources said the split was "amicable" and he would remain as a producer of the series.[10]

On June 21, 2024, it was announced that Todd Harthan was set as the new showrunner for High Potential. The series was scheduled to resume filming in July.[11]

Garret Dillahunt was cast in the recurring role of Lieutenant Melon on July 1, 2024.[12] Taran Killam was cast on August 21, 2024, in the major recurring role of Ludo Radovic.[13]

On October 1, 2024, the president of Disney Television Studios & Business Operations announced that ABC Signature, the company behind High Potential would be immediately dissolved and "folded into" 20th Century Fox.[14] The impact of ABC Signature's dissolution on potential future seasons of High Potential, which is lauded as a "potential breakout", is unknown.

On January 21, 2025, High Potential was renewed for a second season.[1]

Reception[]

The initial telecast of High Potential accrued 3.6 million Live + Same Day viewers and a 0.35 demographic on ABC. This number rose 220% following its streaming release on Hulu, Hulu on Disney+, and other platforms, raising the number to 11.5 million viewers and a 1.59 Multiplatform rating. Following its three day release, it rose to a 1.31 rating, the highest for any ABC drama series premiere since "Big Sky" in November 2020. It was the most-watched broadcast series in it timeslot (10 p.m. EST), topping shows such as "Password" and "FBI: Most Wanted". High Potential trended at number one Hulu's Top 15 chart for three days.[15] These ratings included two re-runs that racked in 4 million viewers each.[16]

The second episode aired to 3.67 million views on ABC. It grew to 10.72 million across all platforms within the week from streaming DVR ratings. The demographic increased seven times to 2.2, not including re-runs. The Nielson delayed viewing figures without streaming was 6.76 million viewers and a 0.61 demographic ratings, meaning about 37% of the series viewership came from streaming services or other digital platforms.[16]

The third episode grew in audience by 19%. It reached 8.74 million views in its first three days of viewing across ABC, Hulu, and Hulu on Disney+. The demographic was up with 1.56. On just ABC, the series reached 6.10 million viewers, hitting a series high viewership and outdoing other programming including NBC's "The Voice". It was the largest audience growth from series premiere to second week in 16 years. “High Potential” became the second new broadcast drama to grow in viewership for two consecutive weeks after its premiere since Fox’s “Empire.”[17]

The Winter premiere of High Potential broke the record for ABC's highest total viewership in over four years (December 3, 2020). The episode scored 12.90 million viewers, growing +24% from the Fall broadcast. Theses numbers come from a seven days of available viewership on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+, and other digital platforms.

On February 7, 2025, ABC released its cross-platform broadcast series rankings. The network earned 5 of the 10 slots, with High Potential being the most streamed series with 4.41 million average views. This is over 1 million more viewers then its closest competition, CBSs' Tracker. They noted that, since the premiere episode, the Pilot episode grew to a 6.82 rating among adults 18-49 through mid-January, doubling the number 2 drama premiere of CBS' Matlock.

Notes and Trivia[]

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://deadline.com/2025/01/high-potential-renewed-season-2-abc-kaitlin-olson-1236262722/
  2. ↑ Deadline: Drew Goddard Drama Based On French Series ‘HIP’ Heats Up At ABC As Network Eyes Fall Second Cycle Pilot Pickups
  3. ↑ Deadline: Drew Goddard Drama Based On French Series ‘HIP’ Gets ABC Pilot Order
  4. ↑ Deadline: Upfronts 2023: Pilot Buzz Muted By Writers Strike
  5. ↑ Deadline: ABC Picks Up Kaitlin Olson-Led ‘High Potential’ Series From Drew Goddard
  6. ↑ Deadline: ‘High Potential’: ABC Remake’s Original Creative Team Talk Helping Drew Goddard Adapt For The U.S. & Forging A “Global Brand”
  7. ↑ Deadline: ‘Home Economics’ Canceled At ABC, ‘High Potential’ Moves To Fall 2024
  8. ↑ Deadline: As Strikes Pushed Scripted Broadcast Shows Into 2024-25, ABC Boss Talks “Pilot Season”
  9. ↑ Deadline: ABC New Series Teasers: ‘High Potential’, ‘Doctor Odyssey’
  10. ↑ Deadline: Rob Thomas Exits As Showrunner For Kaitlin Olson’s ‘High Potential’ ABC Series
  11. ↑ Deadline: ABC’s ‘High Potential’ Sets Todd Harthan As New Showrunner
  12. ↑ Deadline: Garret Dillahunt Boards ABC’s ‘High Potential’
  13. ↑ Deadline: Taran Killam Joins Kaitlin Olson In ABC’s ‘High Potential’ Drama Series
  14. ↑ Deadline: ABC Signature’s Shutdown Ends 4-Decade Legacy: From ‘Golden Girls’ To ‘Lost’, ‘Black-Ish’ & ‘Grey’s Anatomy’
  15. ↑ Variety: [https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/high-potential-premiere-ratings-viewers-1236155076/ ‘High Potential’ Jumps 220% to 11.5 Million Viewers Across Platforms in Three Days (EXCLUSIVE)
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 The Hollywood Reporter: ABC’s ‘High Potential’ Nears 11M Viewers for Second Episode (Exclusive)
  17. ↑ The Wrap: ‘High Potential’ Audience Grows 19% With 8.7 Million Viewers for Episode 3 | Exclusive
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.