Honestly, it’s still a bit of a sting. You remember that feeling in 2016 when CBS pulled the plug on Limitless? It felt like we just lost the most creative procedural on television. One minute Brian Finch is making a diorama out of office supplies to explain a complex drug cartel, and the next, the show is just… gone.
It wasn't your typical cop show. It had a spark. A lot of that came down to the cast of limitless tv series, a group that had this weird, electric chemistry you don't see often. They took a concept that could have been a generic "super-smart guy helps the FBI" trope and turned it into something playful, high-stakes, and genuinely funny.
So, what happened to them? Since it's 2026, we’ve had a decade to see where everyone landed. Some have become prestige drama heavyweights, while others are literally running for political office.
Jake McDorman as Brian Finch: More Than a One-Hit Wonder
Jake McDorman had the impossible task of following Bradley Cooper’s lead. He didn't just copy the movie; he made Brian Finch a lovable, anxious, and deeply human protagonist.
After the show ended, Jake didn't slow down. You've probably seen him pop up in some of the best prestige TV of the last few years. He went from the lighthearted NZT-fueled antics to the grim, heavy world of Dopesick on Hulu, playing John Brownlee. It was a massive pivot.
But for many, his most "Brian Finch-esque" role was in the bizarre and brilliant Mrs. Davis (2023). He played Wiley, a guy fighting an all-powerful AI alongside a nun. It had that same chaotic, creative energy that made Limitless so good. Recently, he’s been a staple in high-concept dramas like Class of '09. He’s basically become the go-to guy for "capable man in an incapable situation."
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Jennifer Carpenter: From Debra Morgan to 1923
When Jennifer Carpenter was cast as Agent Rebecca Harris, she was already a TV legend thanks to Dexter. She brought a grounded, "straight-man" energy to the show that anchored Brian’s insanity.
Interestingly, Jennifer was actually eight-and-a-half months pregnant when they filmed the Limitless pilot. Talk about dedication.
Since the show, she’s leaned back into her roots of gritty, intense performances. She reprised her role as Debra Morgan in Dexter: New Blood (2021-2022), which was a huge moment for fans. More recently, in 2025, she joined the Taylor Sheridan universe. She took on a recurring role as Mamie Fossett in the Western drama 1923. She’s moved away from the procedural grind and seems to be picking roles that allow for much more emotional weight.
The Bradley Cooper Connection: More Than a Cameo
We have to talk about Eddie Morra. Usually, when a movie star produces a TV spin-off, they show up for thirty seconds in the pilot and never come back.
Bradley Cooper didn't do that. He was actually in the show.
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As an executive producer, he made sure the series was a direct sequel to the 2011 film. He showed up four times as Senator Edward Morra, and honestly, he was terrifying. He played Morra like a shark—always three steps ahead, morally ambiguous, and clearly the "final boss" of the series.
While Cooper has obviously gone on to win every award under the sun for things like Maestro and A Star Is Born, his involvement in the cast of limitless tv series showed he actually cared about the story. He and McDorman apparently became close friends on the set of American Sniper, which is how McDorman got the lead in the first place.
Hill Harper: From the FBI to a Senate Run
Hill Harper played Agent Spelman Boyle. He was the skeptic. The guy who wasn't quite sure if trusting a guy on a brain-enhancing drug was a great idea for the FBI.
Hill Harper is probably the person on this list who has had the most "limitless" life in the real world. He’s a Harvard Law grad, a best-selling author, and a cancer survivor.
While he spent several years on the massive hit The Good Doctor as Dr. Marcus Andrews, his biggest move happened off-screen. In 2024, he actually ran for the U.S. Senate in Michigan. He didn't win the primary, but he’s become a major voice in the progressive wing of the Democratic party. It’s kind of poetic, considering his character in Limitless was constantly dealing with the political machinations of Senator Morra.
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The Supporting Players Who Made it Work
The show wouldn't have been the same without the desk-bound agents and the shadowy villains.
- Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (Nasreen "Naz" Pouran): The veteran actress brought so much gravitas as the head of the CJC. She’s continued to work steadily in theatre and television, always being that "voice of authority" we love.
- Michael James Shaw (Agent Mike): One half of "Mike and Ike," the guys assigned to watch Brian 24/7. Shaw has since become a massive star in his own right, famously playing Mercer in the final season of The Walking Dead and voicing Corvus Glaive in the MCU.
- Tom Degnan (Agent Ike): The other half of the duo. He’s stayed active in the New York acting scene, appearing in various procedurals and soaps.
Why the Show Was Cancelled (And Why We Still Care)
It basically comes down to demographics. In 2016, CBS was trying to reach a younger audience with Limitless and Supergirl. While the show had a cult following, it didn't hit those massive "NCIS" numbers the network wanted.
There were also rumors that the network was nervous about the "drug-positive" messaging of NZT, even though the show went out of its way to show the side effects and the addiction.
The tragedy is that the second season was already being planned. Showrunner Craig Sweeny had a vision for a world where NZT was public, and Brian was no longer a secret weapon. We never got to see it.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're missing the NZT high, here’s how to scratch that itch in 2026:
- Watch "Mrs. Davis": If you loved the quirky, fast-paced humor of Limitless, this is the closest thing to it. Jake McDorman is fantastic in it.
- Check out the 1923 Prequel: See Jennifer Carpenter in a completely different light. It’s brutal, beautiful, and shows why she’s one of the best in the business.
- Follow Hill Harper’s Advocacy: If you liked the "smartest guy in the room" vibe, Harper’s real-life work on financial literacy and social justice is genuinely inspiring.
- Rewatch on Paramount+: The show is still streaming. It holds up surprisingly well, and the "visual style"—the way they used color to show Brian on and off the pill—is still top-tier.
The cast of limitless tv series might have moved on to bigger things, but that one-season wonder remains a masterclass in how to do a TV adaptation right. It was smart, it was weird, and it deserved better.