Is Steve Howey Poised to Return to Ransom Canyon Following High-Profile Exit?
Ransom Canyon showcased Steve Howey in a quick cameo, but could he make a comeback after his surprising exit from High Potential?
“We’re always working on expanding the worlds and the characters within them,” showrunner April Blair revealed exclusively to Us. “We definitely have deeper stories with Staten and his father that we want to explore.”
Blair suggested Howey might return, stating, “Steve Howey was always envisioned as a fun little cameo. He’s this eccentric brother living in the woods who, surprisingly, has a philosophical side—much more in tune with his emotions than Staten. We needed a significant moment for Staten this season to really fight for Quinn and return.”
She added, “This scene had to carry weight, and who better to deliver that than Steve Howey?”
Season 2, now available for streaming, introduced Howey as Staten’s (Josh Duhamel) brother dwelling in the woods. Their short but meaningful exchange hinted at a more intricate family history that could unfold in future episodes.
Howey has been keeping busy with projects like Off Campus, Ransom Canyon, and The Lincoln Lawyer. He was also part of High Potential, where his character faced a dramatic fate at the end of season 2. Wagner’s outcome is still uncertain after Morgan (Kaitlin Olson) arrived just in time to provide medical assistance.
Deadline reported in April that Howey had only signed a one-year contract. However, Wagner’s storyline remains open-ended, giving Howey a chance to return as a guest star in the early episodes of season 3 to conclude his arc.
High Potential recently experienced a shakeup after showrunner Todd Harthan left to devote his efforts to the upcoming live-action adaptation of Christopher Paolini’s young-adult series, The Inheritance Cycle.
The series was initially conceived by Drew Goddard, while Rob Thomas was anticipated to step in as showrunner before leaving in June 2024, just months ahead of the series launch. Harthan was then announced as the new showrunner and executive producer.
Harthan shared his vision for the series in an interview with Us back in January.
“It’s going to be quite a tumultuous journey. We’ll begin addressing some intense issues involving Morgan and the Roman storyline,” he stated. “The dynamics at home will bring all sorts of challenges. It’s going to get complicated—hopefully in an engaging way that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.”
He concluded, “As we head into the latter half of the second season, our focus will be on filling in major gaps and advancing key relationships. Expect to see some powerful moments between Steve Howey’s character and Captain Wagner that will create some compelling drama. It’s all part of our usual approach to mixing things up, maintaining audience engagement, and keeping viewers guessing.”
Howey himself shared insights about his role in season 2 of High Potential.
“Nick stirs things up but not for malicious reasons. He genuinely wants to help, and we’ll start to see that through the different episodes,” he teased in September 2025. “I was initially worried that introducing a new character could disrupt the existing dynamic. I’m working hard to ensure that doesn’t happen. What unfolds is bound to be something really exciting.”
