EXCLUSIVE: Station 19 star Jaina Lee Ortiz is returning to ABC as a series regular on the network’s upcoming hourlong series RJ Decker headlined by Scott Speedman. The project, from Elementary creator Rob Doherty based on the 1987 novel Double Whammy by Carl Hiaasen, is slated to premiere in midseason.
RJ Decker, from 20th Television, 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 South Florida. The series follows him tackle 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.
Ortiz will play Emi Ochoa, the shrewd-if-unpredictable daughter of a very powerful, very corrupt state senator with ties to RJ’s (Speedman) past.
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The role, originally named Shay Bennett, was played by Weruche Opia in the pilot. It was revealed at the time of the series pickup in late September that it will be recast.
In addition to Speedman and Ortiz, the series regular cast includes Kevin Rankin as Aloysius ‘Wish’ Aiken, Adelaide Clemens as Catherine Delacroix, Bevin Bru as Melody ‘Mel’ Romero.
Doherty executive produces alongside Hiaaseen, Carl Beverly and Sarah Timberman. Paul McGuigan directs and executive produces. Speedman is a producer.
Speedman and Ortiz are both part of ABC/Shondaland’s Grey’s Anatomy universe. Speedman was a series regular and continues to recur on the mothership series, currently in its 22nd season. Ortiz was the female lead of spinoff series Station 19, which aired for seven seasons. The two appeared in two Grey’s Anatomy episodes together, which were part of Station 19 crossovers.
Ortiz’s breakout role was opposite Morris Chestnut on the Fox drama series Rosewood. She recently wrapped the Sony action feature Archangel opposite Jim Caviezel, Garret Dillahunt and Shea Wigham and was also seen alongside Dennis Quaid and Jay Hernandez in the indie The Long Game, which premiered at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival where it won the Narrative Spotlight Audience Award. Ortiz is repped by Link Entertainment.