The latest update onGrey’s Anatomystar Scott Speedman is a relief, even as the actor takes on a new lead role. Speedman made his debut in season 14 as Dr. Nick Marsh, a patient ofEllen Pompeo’s Dr. Meredith Grey, before returning in season 18 and getting positioned as a potential love interest for Meredith.
After close to 40 episodes, that potential has turned into something far more concrete. Nick and Meredith may actually be endgame, which is a daunting role to fill even several years removed from the death of Dr. Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey). Nick’s understated significance to the medical drama is part of why he’s returning forGrey’s Anatomyseason 22, even as he’s set to lead a new crime drama on ABC.
It’s Based On A Novel
Speedman will play the titular role inRJ Decker, which focuses on the main character as he attempts to move on from being a disgraced newspaper photographer and ex-con.Decker begins anew as a private investigator in South Florida, tackling cases that range from odd to outright bizarre. Decker has the help of a journalist, who is also his ex, a police detective, and a shadowy woman from his past who could send him back to prison.
RJ Decker, which hails fromElementarycreator Rob Doherty, is based on Carl Hiaasen’sDouble Whammynovel.The project is still in the pilot stage, which means that it may get picked up. But in past comments, top executives sounded optimistic about the crime drama’s chances and noted that it could work well with other ABC shows such asHigh PotentialandWill Trent.
20th Television is the studio behindRJ Decker, with Doherty as executive producer of the pilot alongside Paul McGuigan, who will direct. Carl Beverly and Sarah Timberman, of Timberman-Beverly Productions, and Hiaasen also executive produce.
The lead character is described as someone with charm to spare, though he has a short fuse. It marks Speedman’s latest TV role after his breakout role as Ben Covington in the J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves-created young adult dramaFelicity. He also recently starred in the Peacock horror seriesTeacup.
Speedman Still Plans To Appear On Grey’s Anatomy
Pompeo Will Be Back As Well
The reporting onRJ Deckerframes it as a continuation of Speedman’s relationship with ABC and 20th Television, which also producesGrey’s Anatomy. It’s noted in the reporting fromDeadlinethatSpeedman would begin filming appearances forGrey’s Anatomyseason 22 after wrappingRJ Decker, which would maintain one of the show’s core pairings.
Despite some professional clashes, the relationship between Meredith and Nick remains on solid ground intheGrey’s Anatomyseason 21 finale. Meredith even shares that she’ll be spending a little more time in Seattle, with Pompeo previously stating that she’ll appear in seven episodes. Even though Speedman may not be there for all of those episodes,the latest news confirms he won’t be gone completely.
Speedman Appearing On Both Shows Is A Win For TV Audiences
It’s The Best Of Both Worlds
The casting news is a big positive for fans of network shows. On one hand, theRJ Deckerannouncement recruits a recognizable television star for a crime drama that hopes to build on the massive success ofHigh PotentialandWill Trent. If it proves to be a hit, it’s another sign that network executives would do well to further invest in a robust primetime lineup right when there are signs and concerns of a pullback.
If it proves to be a hit, it’s another sign that network executives would do well to further invest in a robust prime-time lineup…
On an immediate level, though, it could just be the newest entry in the reliable procedural format of flawed individuals making for great detectives. It won’t take him away fromGrey’s Anatomycompletely, at least not for the time being, which is a sigh of relief since Nick and Meredith have been through too much, at this point, for their romance to be strangely cut short thanks to outside factors.
