Who plays Morgan in High Potential? Exploring what happens to the character in the French series’ adaptation 

Kaitlin Olson as Morgan (Image via ABC)
Kaitlin Olson as Morgan (Image via ABC)

Kaitlin Olson plays Morgan in High Potential. Morgan is a single mother of three who cleans for the LAPD. She is very bright, with an IQ of 160. Her lateral thinking helps her solve odd cases and she becomes an LAPD consultant in the Major Crimes Division.

High Potential also sheds light on Morgan's private life, such as the disappearance of her first lover Roman, when his daughter Ava was still a baby. After the unfortunate event, Morgan uses LAPD resources to uncover some truths behind his mysterious disappearance.

High Potential is an American crime drama television series created and written by Drew Goddard for ABC. It is based on the French series HPI and premiered on September 17, 2024.


What is the story of Morgan in High Potential?

Morgan with high IQ (Image via ABC)
Morgan with high IQ (Image via ABC)

Morgan Gillory, Kaitlin Olson, is not an actual cop, but it doesn't take long for her to show she has a knack for solving crimes in ABC's new drama High Potential. While investigating a murder, Morgan points out things that police investigators often miss.

Lieutenant Selena Soto, played by Judy Reyes, is quickly impressed by Morgan's detective skills, even though she is no professional. Detective Adam Karadec, played by Daniel Sunjata, is less than happy to have someone interfering with his case.

The premise of the series revolves around Morgan. Though Karadec is outraged, Soto sees something special in the way Morgan thinks. The reason she can explain how she managed to find certain clues is that she has "high intellectual potential."


How similar is High Potential to the French crime series?

Comparing ABC's show with the French original show (Image via ABC)
Comparing ABC's show with the French original show (Image via ABC)

High Potential is a fictional work inspired by the 2021 French crime series Haut Potentiel Intellectuel by Stéphane Carrié, Alice Chegaray-Breugnot, and Nicolas Jean.

In the original series, the police station in Lille is the main backdrop for Morgan's story, but for his exploits he exists in Los Angeles, California. When parenthood is forced to compete with the protagonist's new purpose in life, the single mother must balance the responsibilities of her other life, which now includes the LAPD's latest crime-fighting experiment.

Some aspects of the source material remain, such as a more undisciplined heroine who disobeys authority. Despite this, her contribution to the investigation is invaluable and proves her worth to her exasperated partner Karadec, creating a unique push-pull dynamic between the two.

Adapted by Kat Sieniuc, Drew Goddard, and Dennis Saldua, High Potential has taken on Morgan's humor and incredibly sharp ability to connect different parts of a crime that no one seems to see on the whiteboard.

During an interview, Kaitlin Olson talked about her character Morgan in an interview, she said;

“I still love a scrappy character. Morgan is incredibly intelligent, but it tortures her. She also is a wonderful mom who cares so much about her kids. It’s a fun departure from the degenerate characters I’ve played.”

Is Morgan’s character inspired by a true story?

Morgan is a fictional character (Image via ABC)
Morgan is a fictional character (Image via ABC)

No, Morgan's character is not based on any real-life character. Morgan Gillory is a fictional character created by screenwriter Drew Goddard for High Potential. She is inspired by another fictional character named Morgane Alvaro, a female protagonist of the French crime comedy series.

Morgane was written by Nicolas Jean, who created the European series with Stéphane Carrié and Alice Chegaray-Breugnot. The idea was inspired by his son, who has HIP (High Intellectual Potential). In real life, Nicolas' child is not a police advisor helping to solve murders in Lille, France.

Also Read: 9 murder mystery shows to watch in 2024, explored


The show is available to stream on ABC.

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Edited by Apoorva Jujjavarapu