Steve Howey may have exited High Potential under dramatic circumstances, but his future on Ransom Canyon appears far more promising. According to series creator April Blair, the actor’s brief but memorable appearance in Season 2 was never meant to be a one-off surprise. Instead, it was designed as the beginning of a much larger story that could play a significant role in Staten Kirkland’s journey moving forward.

Speaking exclusively with Us Weekly, Blair explained that introducing Howey’s mysterious character was part of a broader effort to expand the world of Ransom Canyon. While audiences only saw a short emotional reunion between Staten, played by Josh Duhamel, and his estranged brother living deep in the wilderness, Blair revealed that the creative team has plenty more stories they hope to tell about the fractured family.

“We’re always trying to build out the world and the people who live in it,” Blair shared. “There’s still so much story left involving Staten, his father, and the process of healing those relationships.”

She also couldn’t hide her excitement about working with Howey, describing him as one of the show’s favorite guest stars.

“Steve Howey is someone we’ve always thought of as this really fun guest character. He’s the eccentric brother living out in the woods, but he’s also a philosopher and a poet in his own way. He’s more emotionally open than Staten, and that’s exactly what Staten needed at that point in his life.”

According to Blair, bringing Howey into the story wasn’t simply about introducing another family member. The emotional conversation between the brothers became the turning point that pushed Staten toward fighting for Quinn again after months of emotional isolation.

“We needed a huge turning point for Staten this season so he’d finally decide to fight for Quinn and come back home,” Blair explained. “There was no better person to create that emotional depth than Steve Howey.”

The comments have immediately fueled speculation that viewers haven’t seen the last of the actor in Ransom Canyon.

The possibility of a return comes at an interesting time for Howey, whose future on High Potential remains uncertain following the shocking Season 2 finale. His character, Nick Wagner, was shot during the closing moments of the season, leaving fans unsure whether he survived. Although Morgan, played by Kaitlin Olson, reached him in time to provide emergency medical help, the series deliberately left his fate unresolved.

Earlier reports indicated that Howey originally signed only a one-year contract with High Potential. However, because Wagner’s storyline ended on a cliffhanger rather than with a confirmed death, many viewers believe he could still return for guest appearances in Season 3 if the writers decide to wrap up his story.

Behind the scenes, High Potential has also experienced significant creative changes. Showrunner Todd Harthan recently departed to focus on another television project, following earlier exits by Rob Thomas before the series even premiered. Despite those changes, Harthan previously promised that the second half of Season 2 would place Wagner at the center of several major conflicts.

“There are going to be some very tense moments involving Steve Howey’s character,” Harthan said earlier this year. “He really starts to shine in the back half of the season, and that creates dramatic complications on multiple levels.”

Howey himself previously teased that Nick was never intended to be a disruptive addition to the series despite initially stirring conflict.

“Nick comes in and shakes things up, but that’s not really his intention,” the actor explained. “He genuinely wants to help, and viewers will gradually see that through the season. I was careful not to damage the chemistry that already existed because I believed this story could grow into something really special.”

With Ransom Canyon, Off Campus, and The Lincoln Lawyer all keeping him busy, Steve Howey has become one of television’s busiest actors. But if April Blair’s latest comments are any indication, fans of Ransom Canyon may have only seen the beginning of his story—and Staten’s complicated relationship with his brother could become one of the show’s most emotional storylines in the seasons ahead.