Scott Speedman‘s new ABC show RJ Decker — which comes after his return to Grey’s Anatomy — has recast a lead role.
It was confirmed on Wednesday, November 12, that Station 19’s Jaina Lee Ortiz has joined the cast as a series regular. She will play Emi Ochoa, who is described as a “shrewd-if-unpredictable daughter of a very powerful, very corrupt state senator” with ties to RJ’s (Speedman) past.
The character was originally named Shay Bennett and played by Weruche Opia in the pilot. After the show was picked up in late September, it was announced that the role would be recast. In addition to Speedman and Ortiz, RJ Decker stars Kevin Rankin, Adelaide Clemens and Bevin Bru.
Based on Carl Hiaasen’s novel Double Whammy, the series 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.”
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It was announced in June that Speedman, 50, landed the lead role of RJ Decker.
Multiple outlets noted that Speedman’s portrayal of Nick Marsh on Grey’s Anatomy shouldn’t be impacted. Although RJ Decker was picked up, Speedman will continue to have a recurring role on the long-running medical drama.
Speedman originally joined Grey’s Anatomy as a guest star in season 14. He then appeared as a main cast member in 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 in season 20 and has remained on Grey’s Anatomy since then.
“[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.’”
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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.”
Earlier in this year’s season 22, Speedman returned alongside Pompeo. His appearance came after Deadline reported that Grey’s Anatomy is reducing the minimum guarantees for its veteran cast members to 14 out of the show’s 18 episodes per season.
While some fan favorites won’t be missing for more than four episodes this season, Caterina Scorsone‘s absence was doubled after her character, Amelia, chose to take a sabbatical. Deadline subsequently reported that Scorsone’s break will last until 2026.
