A new kind of Florida crime drama arrives on ABC
ABC is adding a sharply drawn private-eye to its Tuesday-night lineup with RJ Decker, a new series that blends mystery, dark comedy, and action against a sun-bleached South Florida backdrop. Starring Scott Speedman, the show follows a fallen photographer-turned-investigator who returns to civilian life trying to stay out of trouble — even as trouble keeps finding him. Collider has an exclusive first look at the series, including two new images that introduce the tone and principal players.
Premise: a messy past, a risky new life
RJ Decker centers on its eponymous protagonist, a disgraced former newspaper photographer who once lived — and documented — the messier side of Florida life. After serving time, Decker reinvents himself as a private investigator, hoping to build something honest out of the wreckage. But his cases quickly run from the weird to the outright bonkers, reflecting the eccentric, often corrupt world he now navigates.
Decker’s support system — and complicating factors — include:
- His former romantic partner, now a journalist.
- Her spouse, a police detective, who shares professional overlap and personal tension with Decker.
- Emi Ochoa (played by Jaina Lee Ortiz), a mysterious benefactor whose ties to a powerful, corrupt Florida senator give her influence and motive. Emi’s leverage could be Decker’s lifeline or his undoing.
The series promises a mix of procedural puzzles and serialized threads tied to Decker’s past, with frequent moral gray areas and the risk that one wrong move could land him back behind bars.
Cast to watch
- Scott Speedman as RJ Decker — the show’s flawed central figure. Speedman recently appeared in Peacock’s 2024 horror series Teacup.
- Jaina Lee Ortiz as Emi Ochoa — the unpredictable benefactor whose family connections complicate Decker’s new gig.
- Adelaide Clemens, Bevin Bru, and Kevin Rankin round out the principal ensemble in supporting roles.
ABC’s promotional images show Speedman’s Decker both in the field — hunched over a laptop with Ortiz’s character nearby — and formally dressed, seated in what appears to be a courtroom, hinting at high-stakes legal jeopardy early on.
From Carl Hiaasen’s pages to network television
The series adapts Double Whammy, the 1987 novel by Carl Hiaasen. That book introduced Decker to readers via an offbeat mystery that weaves competitive bass fishing, murder, and Hiaasen’s signature Florida-flavored satire. RJ Decker expands that source material for broadcast television, retaining the eccentricity and local color while widening the scope of its cases for episodic storytelling.
The adaptation is guided by a creative team that includes Rob Doherty (creator of Elementary), a figure familiar with balancing procedural structure with character-driven mysteries. The show aims to capture Hiaasen’s mix of crime and comic absurdity while leaning into contemporary serialized arcs.
Tone and comparisons: Where RJ Decker fits on the dial
ABC already programs several investigative dramas — from the cerebral High Potential to the relentless Will Trent — and RJ Decker adds a rougher, more sardonic voice to that roster. Its sun-soaked setting, morally compromised characters, and mixture of humor and grit position it as an appealing alternative to legal-detective series such as The Lincoln Lawyer, offering viewers a more irreverent, Florida-specific take on crime drama.
Expect episodes to shift between standalone mysteries and longer storylines tied to Decker’s attempts to stay free and rebuild his life. The show’s visual cues — from trailer-park textures to courtroom stakes — underline the tug-of-war between Decker’s past and his efforts at redemption.
What the first images reveal
The two exclusive images released by ABC set up the series’ visual and emotional landscape:
- A working shot of Decker at a laptop, collaborating or cross-referencing notes with Emi Ochoa, hinting at uneasy alignment between private investigation and political influence.
- A courtroom image that frames Decker in a suit, visibly tense, which suggests early legal peril and the ever-present threat of incarceration.
These frames reinforce the show’s dual focus: procedural detective work and the ongoing drama of a protagonist whose freedom is fragile.
When to watch
RJ Decker premieres Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 10 PM ET on ABC. The series will compete for attention among established crime dramas while offering a fresh, Florida-centric voice and a troubled lead whose survival depends as much on wit as on luck.
Why it’s worth following
RJ Decker’s combination of source-material pedigree (Carl Hiaasen), a lead performance from Scott Speedman, and a creative team experienced in procedural storytelling make it a notable addition to network TV’s crime slate. If you enjoy character-driven investigations with a taste for dark humor and regional specificity, this one is worth a spot on your watch list when it launches in March.