Station 19’s Jaina Lee Ortiz is teaming up with her former Grey’s Anatomy co-star Scott Speedman once more for an upcoming ABC show titled RJ Decker. Speedman will star in the show, and Ortiz will be a series regular.
RJ Decker is a crime drama that was inspired by Double Whammy, a novel written by Carl Hiaasen in 1987. The series will follow its titular character (Speedman), a former photojournalist and ex-convict who reinvents himself as a private investigator after he served his sentence. The story takes place in South Florida, where he takes on some of the strangest cases. Decker teams up with his past girlfriend, who is still a journalist, her wife (who is a detective in the police force), and a mysterious woman from his past who could either help him succeed or send him straight back to prison.
Ortiz will portray Emi Ochoa, the daughter of a deceitful state senator who is closely connected to Decker’s past. Emi is described as very sharp and volatile. The character was originally supposed to be named Shay Bennett, and Weruche Opia was initially cast for the role. However, it was announced in September 2025 that they were looking for a new actor.
The series is created by Rob Doherty (Elementary). The author of the source material, Hiaaseen, will serve as an executive producer, as well as Carl Beverly (Fleishman Is in Trouble) and Sarah Timberman (Lonely Planet). Aside from Ortiz and Speedman, RJ Decker will also star Kevin Rankin (Aloysius “Wish” Aiken), Bevin Bru (Melody “Mel” Romero, and Adelaide Clemens (Catherine Delacroix).
Ortiz and Speedman starred in two episodes of Grey’s Anatomy together. The two crossed paths during a crossover between the medical drama and its spinoff series Station 19. Ortiz starred as a firefighter named Andy Herrera in the latter, while Speedman played transplant surgeon, Dr. Nick Marsh, in the flagship show.
ABC’s RJ Decker will premiere midseason.
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Weruche Opia
Shay Bennett
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