Last we saw "R.J. Decker," the private eye of the title had exposed a corrupt businessman — who soon after was found floating face-down in a swimming pool, murdered.
It's a mystery that will follow the Wilmington-shot ABC TV series into its season-two premiere 10 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15. The show will be available for streaming the next day on Hulu.
"R.J. Decker," which stars Canadian actor Scott Speedman in the title role, will also have some high-powered backing in terms of a crossover with hit reality competition series "Dancing with the Stars," which premieres its 34th season 8 p.m. Sept. 15.
Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy of "Dancing with the Stars" will appear in the "R.J. Decker" season premiere, as will Joey Graziadei, a past winner
of ABC reality competition series "The Bachelor."
It's all part of an effort by ABC to promote "R.J. Decker," a grittily comedic crime drama that marked a five-year ratings high for ABC's 10 p.m. time slot in 2025.
It regularly appeared in the list of top-5-most-watched shows on Hulu.
The show also features a new cast member: Sasheer Zamata as Special Agent Melinda Winwood, a detective who has a history with fellow cop Melody "Mel" Abreu (Bevin Bru), who's married to Decker's ex-wife in the show.
"R.J. Decker," which stars Speedman ("Felicity," "Grey's Anatomy") as the crime-solving, ex-con private eye of the title, shot its pilot episode in the Wilmington area in the summer of 2025. It returned in November 2025 to shoot eight more episodes, wrapping production on its first season in early April.
The show is shooting season two episodes through at least Sept. 10.
According to film permits filed with the city of Wilmington, season two locations include Murray Storage at 1400 S. Fifth Ave.; Cape Fear Community College's Union Station; Crafted Outpost in the Cargo District; Suncourt Villas; Sir Tyler Drive near the Mayfaire shopping center; Eden Village; and various locations in Carolina Beach.
Trailers for season two also include scenes shot at Castle Hayne "organic artist retreat" Walker World, which is dressed to portray a trailer park where Decker lives.
Other area locations for season two include downtown Wilmington, Flea Body’s Antique Mall on Market Street, Churchill Drive in the Glen Meade neighborhood and One Tree Hill Way in Love Grove.
"R.J. Decker" is set in South Florida, and a good bit of season one was shot there, from B-roll establishing shots to full scenes.
Based on a 1987 novel by best-selling author Carl Hiassen titled "Double Whammy," each episode of "R.J. Decker" solves a self-contained mystery while also weaving in ongoing threads concerning Decker's reporter ex-wife (Adelaide Clemens of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine") and a mysterious woman tied to a powerful family (Jaina Lee Ortiz of "Rosewood").
The show is written by Rob Doherty (“Elementary”) and it also stars Kevin Rankin as Decker's buddy Aloysius "Wish" Aiken, who the private eye helped get out of prison.
John Staton is the arts and culture reporter for the StarNews. You can reach him at jstaton@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Wilmington-shot ABC TV series enlists star power for season 2 premiere
