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ABC’s High Potential honors the French creator behind HPI
ABC’s procedural High Potential paused at the end of Episode 7 to display a simple, moving title card reading 'In Memory of Nicolas Jean.' The tribute acknowledged the sudden passing of the French screenwriter and co-creator of HPI — the original series that inspired the U.S. adaptation starring Kaitlin Olson.
Jean, who died on September 29, had become a recognized name in French television after co-creating HPI: Haut Potentiel Intellectuel with Stéphane Carrié and Alice Chegaray-Breugnot. The original show launched in 2021 and quickly found both domestic acclaim and international interest, leading to the Hulu-streamed U.S. adaptation (titled HIP: High Intellectual Potential) and ABC’s High Potential.
From France to the U.S.: why the format crossed borders
The decision to credit Jean on-screen reflects a larger trend: American networks and streamers are increasingly mining international formats for distinctive voices and fresh procedural twists. Shows like The Bridge and The Returned also crossed oceans to be reshaped for U.S. viewers. HPI’s blend of sharp, character-driven mystery with a lead who juggles motherhood and unusual cognitive gifts felt especially adaptable for today’s TV landscape.
Kaitlin Olson’s Morgan Gillroy is a single mother whose unconventional brilliance powers the ABC series; the supporting cast includes Daniel Sunjata, Javicia Leslie, Deniz Akdeniz, Amirah J, Matthew Lamb and Judy Reyes. Season 2 welcomed Steve Howey as the precinct’s new captain, Jesse Wagner, deepening the ensemble dynamics.
Industry voices and fans reacted to the tribute on social platforms, noting that honoring writers and creators has become more visible as international collaborations increase. The French writers’ guild SACD publicly mourned Jean, praising his rapid ascent, self-taught background and generosity in collaborating with other writers — qualities that helped shape HPI’s inventiveness.
For viewers, the moment is a reminder that adaptations carry more than a concept: they carry creative lineages. HPI’s DNA — its humor, empathy and appetite for original crime storytelling — remains rooted in Jean’s work even as ABC refashions it for broad audiences.
Beyond the credit, the tribute underscores how television formats travel and evolve, and why authorship matters in an era of global content exchange. Fans of procedural drama who appreciate character-led mysteries will likely find both versions of HPI worth watching: the French original for its cultural texture, and the U.S. take for its star-driven, genre-savvy approach.
A quiet, on-screen nod — but one that speaks loudly about respect, adaptation, and the creative threads that tie international television together.
Source: deadline
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