Grey’s Anatomy’s Scott Speedman is trading medicine for private investigation in his upcoming ABC crime drama RJ Decker.
In Us Weekly’s exclusive first look at the show, Speedman’s RJ calls himself “the sunshine state’s most lovable PI.” The description seems misleading, though, since RJ is then seen getting punched in the face by an exotic dancer.
“Business is booming,” RJ quips. “Turns out, murder never takes a vacation.”
Based on Carl Hiaasen‘s novel Double Whammy, RJ Decker focuses on a disgraced newspaper photographer and ex-con who “starts over as a private investigator in the colorful-if-crime-filled world of 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.”
It was announced in June 2025 that Speedman, 50, landed the lead role of RJ Decker. Multiple outlets noted, however, that Speedman’s commitment to playing Nick Marsh on Grey’s Anatomy shouldn’t be impacted by his new gig. He has since returned in a recurring role to the long-running medical drama.
RJ Decker, meanwhile, also stars Station 19’s Jaina Lee Ortiz as Emi Ochoa, described as a “shrewd-if-unpredictable daughter of a very powerful, very corrupt state senator” with ties to RJ’s past. The character was originally named Shay Bennett and played by Weruche Opia before a recasting.
In addition to Speedman and Ortiz, RJ Decker stars Kevin Rankin, Adelaide Clemens and Bevin Bru.
Before RJ Decker, Speedman won over Grey’s Anatomy fans as a guest star on season 14. He then appeared as a main cast member during seasons 18 and 19 as Meredith Grey’s (Ellen Pompeo) love interest before taking a break from the show. Speedman rejoined the cast as a recurring character for season 20 and has remained on Grey’s Anatomy since.
“[The fans] have lots of thoughts. I thought it was gonna be a layup, me coming onto the show,” Speedman said on SiriusXM’s The Spotlight With Jessica Shaw in October 2024. “I’m not a big social media guy, but I remember going on after my first episodes debuted with her, and they tease like, ‘There’s this character coming back to the show.’”
He continued: “And the fans, you know, on social media were not … There was a lot of vomit emojis, which I was like, ‘Oh, alright, alright.’”
Speedman noted that all he could do was “laugh at” the public response, adding of Meredith, “It’s really funny how serious they are about that character, and who’s with that character and who’s not with that character.”
RJ Decker premieres March 3 on ABC at 10 p.m. ET before streaming the next day on Hulu.
