After High Potential Exit, Will Steve Howey Make an Off Campus Season 2 Comeback?

Steve Howey has been popping up everywhere lately, which is great for us and a little chaotic for anyone trying to track where his characters are headed. The big question right now: after everything that went down on ABC's High Potential, is he sticking with Prime Video 's Off Campus for season 2?So... is Howey back for Off Campus season 2?Short answer: the door's open, and the show is acting like he did not just disappear. Howey plays Phil, aka Garrett's dad on Off Campus — the abusive former NHL player who was tweaked from how he's portrayed in Elle Kennedy's books. His storyline on the show never fully wrapped, which is why fans keep asking if he'll be back when the series shifts focus to a new couple in season 2. Star Belmont Cameli (Garrett) tried to calm everyone down about that anthology-style format. He told Us Weekly that even though each season centers on a different romance, the familiar faces are not vanishing. "We will be along for the ride the whole time." Ella Bright backed that up, saying the plan is for them to be sticking around, and Cameli added that they are excited to see what season 2 has in store for them. Translation: even if the spotlight moves, the season 1 crew is still in play — which leaves plenty of space for Phil to resurface and for that unfinished business with Garrett to pay off.Meanwhile, over on High Potential...Howey's arc ended on a literal cliff: his character was shot in the season 2 finale. Morgan (Kaitlin Olson) got there in time to get him help, but his fate is unresolved — and, importantly, it may come down to who ends up running the show next. Trades reported that Howey initially signed a one-year deal, but there is a scenario on the table where he returns as a guest star early in season 3 to properly close out his character's story.The High Potential showrunner shuffle (and why it matters)This is where it gets messy behind the scenes. The series was created by Drew Goddard. Rob Thomas was lined up to be showrunner but exited in June 2024, months before the show even premiered. Todd Harthan then took over as showrunner and executive producer, laid out a plan for a bumpier, more complicated back half of season 2 — including digging into Morgan's history with Roman, family drama with the kids, and escalating the Morgan–Wagner dynamic to stir up some soapy fallout — and then left to focus on the live-action adaptation of Christopher Paolini's The Inheritance Cycle. As of now, High Potential is waiting on a new showrunner, which is part of why Howey's character status is still in limbo.What Howey himself has saidWhen he joined High Potential in season 2, Howey acknowledged his character would ruffle feathers but argued the intent was to help, not hijack the show. He also admitted he was wary of upsetting a tight ensemble chemistry and said he was working to make sure the addition felt organic. As he put it in a September 2025 chat, the hope was that the storyline would evolve into something genuinely cool rather than a stunt. One odd note for the continuity nerds: different reports have tossed around different names while discussing Howey's role and that finale shooting. The upshot is the same: his character took a bullet in the season 2 closer, survived long enough to get medical attention thanks to Morgan, and the show has left his ultimate fate open-ended pending the new creative plan.Where Howey stands right nowOff Campus (Prime Video): Played Phil, Garrett's abusive ex-NHL player father. His arc was left unresolved. Despite the show rotating couples each season, the season 1 leads say they are sticking around in season 2, which keeps the runway clear for Phil to return. High Potential (ABC): His character was shot in the season 2 finale; survival and return are TBD. He reportedly had a one-year deal, but there is a real chance he could pop back in at the start of season 3 to wrap things up. The final call will likely come after a new showrunner is in place. Ransom Canyon: On his docket alongside the above — he is booked for upcoming episodes. The Lincoln Lawyer: Also on his upcoming slate for new season work. Bottom lineNothing about Howey's schedule screams that he's bailing on Off Campus. The character's unfinished storyline plus the cast's comments about returning into season 2 strongly suggest he is still in the mix. High Potential is the wild card — his fate there hinges on who takes over the show and whether they want to resolve that finale shooting on screen. Either way, expect to see a lot of Steve Howey on your TV.

After High Potential Exit, Will Steve Howey Make an Off Campus Season 2 Comeback?

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