ABC has picked up new drama ‘RJ Decker‘, starring Scott Speedman (Grey’s Anatomy, Felicity), which will debut in midseason 2026. The show comes from Elementary creator Rob Doherty and is based on Carl Hiaasen’s 1987 novel Double Whammy.
The series follows RJ Decker (Speedman), a disgraced newspaper photographer and ex-con who decides to reinvent himself as a private investigator in the crime-filled, neon-soaked backdrop of South Florida. Decker’s cases will range from the slightly odd to the downright bizarre, with help from his journalist ex, her police detective wife, and a mysterious benefactor from his past who could be either his greatest ally or the reason he lands back in prison.
Alongside Speedman, the cast includes Kevin Rankin (Claws) as Aloysius “Wish” Aiken, Adelaide Clemens (Rectify) as Catherine Delacroix, and Bevin Bru (Batwoman) as Melody “Mel” Romero. One role will be changing hands before the series launches, as the part of Shay Bennett, originally played by Weruche Opia (I May Destroy You) in the pilot, will be recast.
The pilot, filmed in North Carolina, was directed by Paul McGuigan (Sherlock, Will Trent), with Doherty writing and executive producing alongside Hiaasen, Carl Beverly, Sarah Timberman, and McGuigan. Speedman is also on board as a producer. The series is produced by 20th Television, part of Disney TV Studios.
The move puts ‘RJ Decker’ in the same tonal territory as ABC’s other successful crime dramas like The Rookie, Will Trent and High Potential, blending procedural mystery with character-driven humour. It is notably the only drama pilot ABC has ordered this year, with the network otherwise leaning into straight-to-series commissions such as 9-1-1: Nashville.
This is also the second time Hiaasen’s work has been adapted for television, following Bill Lawrence’s Bad Monkey starring Vince Vaughn at Apple TV+, which has already secured a second season.
‘RJ Decker’ does not yet have a premiere date, but will air on Disney+ in the UK and ABC in the USA. If you want to keep track of this or any other shows, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date. Visit Never Miss.
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