Well, well, well. It looks like we'll be seeing a new crime drama airing on ABC next year, as the network has officially picked up the pilot RJ Decker to series for a midseason 2026 premiere. We first learned of this pilot back in June 2025, and now ABC has given it the green light to become a full series. Grey's Anatomy actor Scott Speedman stars in the leading role.
According to Deadline, the pilot was well-received when it was shown to the network earlier this month, with particular praise for Speedman. Now that it has become a full series, it joins ABC’s lineup of hit crime dramas like The Rookie, Will Trent and High Potential. With Speedman as the lead, we could definitely see RJ Decker becoming a must-watch addition to ABC’s crime drama slate.
Like many shows nowadays, RJ Decker is based on another popular work. It's adapted from Carl Hiaasen’s 1987 novel Double Whammy. Rob Doherty (Elementary) created the series, while Paul McGuigan (Will Trent) directed the pilot. Doherty and McGuigan also serve as executive producers along with Hiaasen, Carl Beverly, and Sarah Timberman. In addition, Speedman not only stars in the crime drama but also produces. 20th Television is the studio behind the series.
So, what is RJ Decker about? It centers on Speedman's character, RJ Decker, a disgraced newspaper photographer and ex-con who reinvents himself as a private investigator in South Florida, investigating cases that range from odd to bizarre. He’s helped by his journalist ex, her police detective wife, and a mysterious woman from his past who could either help him or get him sent back to prison.
When it comes to the cast, Speedman is joined by a talented bunch of actors, including Kevin Rankin as Aloysius 'Wish' Aiken, Adelaide Clemens as Catherine Delacroix, and Bevin Bru as Melody 'Mel' Romero. Weruche Opia, who portrayed the role of Shay Bennett in the pilot, will be recast for the series. However, no actor has been attached yet. Given that it's a series regular role, we're even more curious to find out who will step in and bring the Shay Bennett character to life.
Although an official premiere date has not been announced for RJ Decker, a midseason 2026 premiere indicates that the show will debut sometime between January and March 2026. Of course, we're hoping for a premiere sometime in January because the sooner the better. However, Will Trent season 4 is also set for an early 2026 premiere, and new seasons of that show have usually premiered in January or February.
With RJ Decker and Will Trent being similar shows in a way, there's a chance that ABC will stagger their premiere dates to give each series its best chance to shine. So we might not see RJ Decker until March 2026. We'll get back to you with the premiere date and more information about this upcoming crime drama as it is released. So, stay tuned to GeekSided!