Production crews for a new ABC TV series filmed scenes in West Palm Beach on January 24, closing streets in downtown areas. The show, titled RJ Decker, stars Scott Speedman and adapts a 1987 novel by Carl Hiaasen. It follows a disgraced photographer turned private investigator navigating bizarre cases in South Florida.
On Saturday, January 24, 2026, film crews descended on West Palm Beach to shoot scenes for the upcoming ABC series RJ Decker, based on Carl Hiaasen's 1987 satirical novel. The production closed North Dixie Highway in front of the Palm Beach County Courthouse and the 200 block of Pershing Way in the El Cid neighborhood, with city officials warning residents of potential traffic delays of up to 10 minutes during active filming. Officers directed traffic between takes to minimize disruptions.
The series stars Scott Speedman as RJ Decker, a disgraced newspaper photographer and ex-convict who reinvents himself as a private investigator in South Florida's crime-ridden landscape. According to ABC Entertainment, "RJ Decker is 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 plot draws from Hiaasen's book, where Decker is hired by a sugar mogul to probe a conspiracy involving fixed bass-fishing competitions. He tackles cases ranging "from slightly odd to outright bizarre" with assistance from his journalist ex-wife, her police detective spouse, and a mysterious benefactor.
The show is set to premiere on March 3, 2026. While Hiaasen's novel is primarily located in the Miami area, the extent of West Palm Beach's role in the series remains unclear. A city-posted video on YouTube captured the crew at work outside the courthouse, highlighting how the production creates jobs for local actors and crew members. This filming marks a notable use of the city's downtown as a filming location for Florida-centric entertainment.
