High Potential Announces James Martinez’s Mysterious Role Following Midseason Cliffhanger
After that dramatic cliffhanger, High Potential is back with a midseason premiere, bringing even more star-studded appearances.
In Us Weekly‘s exclusive preview of the episode airing on Tuesday, January 6, James Martinez plays a key role in the ongoing mystery involving a missing painting. This heist was initially addressed in an October 2025 episode where Morgan (Kaitlin Olson) and Karadec (Daniel Sunjata) attempted to solve the case, despite challenges posed by their boss Nick Wagner (Steve Howey) and art recovery expert Rhys (Aiden Turner).
According to the official synopsis, “Morgan’s mistrust of Rhys deepens as the quest for the missing Rembrandt artwork continues. Meanwhile, issues arise when Roman’s missing backpack complicates matters for everyone involved.”
Prior to the ABC show’s return, Judy Reyes discussed Martinez’s cameo with Us, stating, “One of my friends, James Martinez, who recently appeared in Dexter, will be joining the show. I’m proud of that and eager for his episode.”
Showrunner Todd Harthan also shared his enthusiasm for the addition of more guest stars.
“One of the great aspects of this season is that as the show gains popularity, our casting options have been fantastic,” he shared. “In the second half, viewers can look forward to some really exciting guest stars.”
Harthan elaborated: “Our main cast is wonderful, and we’re on the lookout for new faces — just like with Steve Howey. These actors come in, join our amazing cast, and add their unique touch to our world. It’s been exhilarating, and you’ll see some fantastic guest appearances.”
The police procedural, which launched in September 2024, follows the journey of Morgan as she collaborates with the LAPD to resolve murder cases. Initially skeptical, Karadec grows to rely on Morgan’s capabilities within the Major Crimes unit.
Season 2 kicks off with the reveal that Morgan’s ex, Roman, is still alive after being missing for over a decade. The only clue Morgan — and all of Us — possesses is that her ex was an FBI informant and harbors distrust toward the LAPD.
“It’s going to be a tumultuous journey. We’re about to dive into some intense storylines involving Morgan and her relationship with Roman. Expect many trials and tribulations affecting the kids at home,” Harthan hinted to Us. “It’s going to get messy and complicated — in the best ways, hopefully, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.”
He concluded: “As we move into the latter part of the second season, our goal is to fill in crucial gaps and advance relationships. Expect some intense developments between Steve Howey’s character and Captain Wagner, which will create significant drama on multiple fronts. It’s just our usual aim to stir things up and keep the audience engaged.”
High Potential returns to ABC on Tuesday, January 6, at 9 p.m. ET. The show is also available for streaming on Hulu.
