A new crime drama, filmed in NC, is airing soon. How to watch ‘R.J. Decker’
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- The new crime drama “R.J. Decker” is set to premiere on ABC.
- Most of the Florida-set series was filmed in North Carolina.
- The show premieres March 3 on ABC, then streams March 4 on Hulu.
A new TV show is based in Florida — but much of it was filmed in North Carolina.
The ABC crime drama “R.J. Decker” is set to premiere Tuesday, March 3. Filming for the first season was concentrated in the Wilmington area, so it’s possible that sharp-eyed locals and tourists will catch a glimpse of familiar sights.
“Wilmington residents would like it,” actor Kevin Rankin, who plays Aloysius “Wish” Aiken on the show, told WWAY. “They would be able to see a lot of Wilmington in here, with a keen eye, that sort of thing.’”
Here’s what we know about the plot of “R.J. Decker” and how to watch the new series.
“R.J. Decker” filmed in NC
“Scott Speedman stars as R.J. Decker, a disgraced newspaper photographer and ex-con who starts over as a private investigator in the colorful-if-crime-filled world of South Florida,” ABC wrote on its website. “The series follows him 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.”
Speedman is known for his roles in the dramas “Felicity” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” His new series draws inspiration from “Double Whammy,” a book from Florida-based author Carl Hiaasen, according to ABC and IMDb.
But it turns out, North Carolina provides much of the backdrop for the Florida-set show. The first season was “primarily filmed here in NC and is expected to have a direct in-state spend in excess of $45 million,” Guy Gaster, director of the N.C. Film Office, told The News & Observer in a Monday, March 2 email.
Filming locations
“The show has primarily been filming in and around New Hanover County and likely has had some potential scenes also filmed in Pender and/or Brunswick counties,” Gaster wrote. “The production (was) based in North Carolina and over 85% of it has shot in the state. The production has sent a small team to do some additional filming in South Florida as well.”
Casting company TW Cast & Recruit may have offered clues about Wilmington-area filming locations when it put out a call on Facebook for extras to play roles ranging from beachgoers to python contest spectators. Also, “keen eyes may recognize a beloved Carolina Beach establishment in a few episodes,” Robert Doherty told The News & Observer in a Monday, March 2 email.
Doherty — series creator, showrunner and executive producer — said though the show is set in Florida, the Wilmington area’s “beaches and coastal areas give us a similar look and feel. Between the geography and the excellent crews, Wilmington was an easy decision.”
How to watch the new show
“R.J. Decker” is scheduled to make its debut at 10 p.m. Tuesday, March 3. Here’s where to find it on TV:
- Raleigh area: ABC-11
- Charlotte area: WSOC
Then on Wednesday, March 4, the show will be available to stream on Hulu.
The first episode of “R.J. Decker” is set to run after the series was awarded up to $11.6 million from an N.C. Film and Entertainment Grant, Gov. Josh Stein’s office wrote in a December news release. Here are other projects receiving grants, which are designed to draw production to the state:
- Season 2 of “The Hunting Wives,” a TV show that has been filming near Charlotte
- “Widow,” a thriller that filmed near Winston-Salem
This story was originally published March 3, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "A new crime drama, filmed in NC, is airing soon. How to watch ‘R.J. Decker’."
