The week resulting in the upfronts, ABC ordered its first pilot for the season, the hourlong RJ Decker from Elementary creator Rob Doherty primarily based on the 1987 novel Double Whammy by Carl Hiaasen.
“Our hope is to have that as one thing we will take into account for midseason,” Craig Erwich, President, Disney Tv Group, informed Deadline on the day ABC unveiled its 2025-26 schedule.
RJ Decker, a few disgraced newspaper photographer and ex-con who begins over as a non-public investigator within the colorful-if-crime-filled world of South Florida, will likely be trying to be a part of fellow ABC midseason substitute, The Rookie and Will Trent, which is able to rejoin scorching sophomore Excessive Potential on Tuesday night time in January.
That’s not all RJ Decker has in widespread with these exhibits.
“I feel it’s a pilot that matches very effectively with the method that we’ve got at ABC that’s working, which is a very distinctive approach into procedural by way of a singular character that’s acquired a singular perspective and a singular tackle the world, and I might say, importantly, a very good humorousness,” Erwich stated.
“You take a look at Rookie, Will Trent, Excessive Potential, these are exhibits about characters that see the world another way, they usually’re actually humorous. That’s turn into our franchise, and I feel RJ Decker, if it comes out in addition to I hope it is going to, it is going to match rather well into that.”
Additionally becoming into that’s the rent of Paul McGuigan, who directed the pilot for Will Trent, to helm PJ Decker.
ABC had been eying ordering 1-3 pilots this spring. Are extra pickups coming, together with half-hour comedy?
“We make pilots year-round. RJ Decker is a pilot that’s able to make proper now, that’s why we greenlit that now. We make our exhibits once they’re prepared,” Erwich stated. “Others, as they arrive into full growth and are absolutely crystallized and able to be born, we’ll organize them. You will notice orders from us year-round.”
As a part of ABC’s year-round growth, the community has been choosing up pilots in two cycles — one concentrating on fall and one midseason — largely staying away from the standard pilot season timeline.
