Hulu Finds the Perfect ‘High Potential’ Replacement in a 5-Part Crime Classic

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Kaitlin Olson as Morgan Gillory holding a post-it note in the Season 2 finale of High Potential

Published Oct 7, 2026, 7:30 PM EDT

Makuochi Echebiri is a News Writer for Collider. He has been interested in creative writing from as far back as high school, and he would consume pretty much anything that’s film or TV. However, his truest love lies in the presence of historical epics and thrillers.

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ABC has found plenty of success with its lineup of light-hearted detective shows. Since the days of Castle, which gave The Rookie star Nathan Fillion a proper major mainstream TV success, the network has continued to deliver crowd-pleasing blue-sky procedurals. More recently, High Potential, led by Kaitlin Olson, has become one of its biggest hits in the genre. However, the series, which premiered in 2024, will be absent from ABC's fall lineup for the first time, with Season 3 instead slated for midseason next year. In the meantime, Scott Speedman's R.J. Decker has been filling the void on streaming to great success, and now Hulu is calling on another formidable favorite from the past to give audiences more of the same.

Private Eyes, the Canadian comedy-drama based on G.B. Joyce's novel The Code, has officially found a new home on streaming. The series, starring Jason Priestley and Cindy Sampson as a pair of private investigators, was a major hit on Global, running for five seasons before wrapping up in 2021. Much of its appeal came from its quirky characters and the chemistry between its two leads, whose on-screen partnership eventually blossomed into a romance. From its mismatched crime-solving dynamics to its quirky mysteries, witty banter, and character-driven formula, Private Eyes shares many similarities that have helped make High Potential such a hit. With ABC's cozy procedural temporarily out of the fall lineup, Hulu is beefing up its slate with the beloved crime comedy, giving audiences a new opportunity to discover the series on streaming for the first time ever.

'Private Eyes' Returns With a New Spin-off

Hulu's decision to add Private Eyes is a strategic one, particularly as The CW has recently brought back the series with a spin-off series aptly titled Private Eyes: West Coast. The new series sees its central protagonists leave Toronto behind for a new setting in Victoria, British Columbia, where Matt and Angie continue their careers as private investigators. Set five years after the original series, the sequel finds the pair facing an even bigger challenge as they attempt to balance their personal lives and careers while raising a child. Priestley and Sampson have both returned to reprise their roles, with the new series premiering on The CW on October 5 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Episodes are also available to stream on The CW app, Hallmark+, and The Roku Channel.

While Hulu doesn't hold the streaming rights to the new sequel, bringing the original Private Eyes to its platform could prove to be a smart move. Audiences discovering West Coast may naturally want to revisit Matt and Angie's story, giving Hulu a chance to capture viewers interested in the characters' history. And with the streamer already finding success with cozy crime hits like High Potential and R.J. Decker, Private Eyes feels like it's found a natural habitat and is certainly a gem waiting to find a new audience.

Private Eyes is now streaming on Hulu. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

Release Date 2016 - 2021-00-00

Network Global TV

Directors James Genn, Anne Wheeler, Kelly Makin, Shawn Piller, Sudz Sutherland, Eleanore Lindo, Rob Lieberman, Charles Officer, Gail Harvey, Jason Priestley, Jerry Ciccoritti, Jill Carter

Writers Alan McCullough, Derek Schreyer, James Thorpe, Marcus Robinson, Tim Kilby, Shelley Eriksen, Katrina Saville, Alexandra Zarowny, Jackie May, Thomas Pound, Tassie Cameron, Shannon Masters, Tara Armstrong