Grey’s Anatomy fans are buzzing as beloved star Scott Speedman joins ABC’s new crime drama pilot RJ Decker. Will this exciting new role mean he’s leaving the iconic medical series for good? Below, we delve more into the upcoming pilot and what this casting means for Speedman’s future on Grey’s Anatomy.
Speedman is best known for starring as Dr. Nick Marsh in Grey's Anatomy. He joined the cast in a guest role for its fourteenth season before being promoted to a series regular for seasons 18 and 19. Since season 20, he has been a recurring cast member. Now, he has just been cast as the lead actor in RJ Decker, which is a pilot being developed by ABC.
The pilot is created by Rob Doherty (who also created Elementary) and is based on the 1987 novel Double Whammy by Carl Hiaasen. Doherty wrote the script, and Paul McGuigan (Will Trent, Inside Man) directs. Doherty, Hiaasen, and McGuigan are also executive producers, along with Carl Beverly and Sarah Timberman. In addition, 20th Television is the studio behind the project.
According to Deadline, Speedman will play the main character, RJ Decker, a newspaper photographer and ex-convict starting a new career as a private investigator in South Florida. Together with help from his ex-girlfriend (a journalist), her wife (a police detective), and a mysterious woman from his past, he tackles a series of unusual and often bizarre cases.
"RJ Decker centers on the eponymous RJ Decker (Speedman), a disgraced newspaper photographer and ex-con who starts over as a private investigator in the colorful-if-crime-filled world of Carl Hiaasen’s South Florida, tackling cases that range from slightly odd to outright bizarre with the help of his journalist ex, her police detective wife, and a shadowy new benefactor, a woman from his past who could be his greatest ally … or his one-way ticket back to prison."
As reported by Deadline, RJ Decker is described as a person who is very charming but also has a quick temper and is restless. In other words, he’s a complex character with both appealing qualities and flaws.
The news outlet also reports that Speedman's new role on RJ Decker is not expected to stop him from continuing his appearances on Grey’s Anatomy, and the plan is for him to work on both shows if RJ Decker gets picked up. Additionally, they learned from insiders that after Speedman finishes filming the new pilot, he is expected to move on to filming his scenes for the upcoming Grey's Anatomy season 22.
So, no, Grey's fans should not be worried about him departing the medical drama. It looks like the network plans to accommodate both projects, meaning fans can look forward to seeing Speedman return as Nick Marsh while also watching him take on this fresh and intriguing character in RJ Decker.
RJ Decker is the only new TV pilot that ABC has officially ordered so far in 2025. The pilot was given the go-ahead in May, and it’s being considered for airing as part of ABC’s midseason lineup in 2026. As more information about RJ Decker comes out, you'll be the first to know. However, this is all we know at present.
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