WILMINGTON — Fans of the late ’90s and early aughts drama “Felicity” may just see heartthrob Ben Covington along Wilmington’s streets this month.
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Otherwise known as Scott Speedman, the actor is the lead in a new Wilmington-filmed pilot from ABC, as first reported by Deadline. While “Felicity” started Speedman’s career, he has since gone on to appear in shows such as “You” and more recently “Gray’s Anatomy,” which he is expected to return to after wrapping “RJ Decker.”
“RJ Decker” is being filmed in town at the end of this month, according to permits from the city. Its offices will be set up at Cinespace Studios on 23rd Street.
A lighthearted, hour-long crime drama, the storyline follows a private investigator (Speedman), who is also an ex-con and former, if not disgraced, newspaper photographer. Decker takes on bizarre cases in South Florida with a bevy of people from his past involved.
From creator Rob Doherty (“Elementary”) and based on Carl Hiaasen’s 1987 novel “Double Whammy,” “RJ Decker” will be directed and produced by Paul McGuigan (“Sherlock,” “Elementary,” “Lucky Number Slevin”). Hiaasen is also an executive producer.
It’s not the first time the Floridian novelist — a former journalist for the Miami Herald, who creates worlds with eccentric characters dealing with political corruption and crime — has had his writings featured on the screen. Apple TV’s “Bad Monkey,” starring Vince Vaughn, was also based on Hiaasen’s work of the same title.
According to City of Wilmington film permits, the “RJ Decker” pilot is set to shoot July 20 and 21 on Churchill Drive. Street closures will be in place on S. Churchill between Knollwood Drive and Hillsboro Road and production is expected to run from 7 a.m. to midnight.
TW Cast and Recruit is in charge of the pilot’s extras. The group also has dealt with other local projects, including Starz “Hightown” and more recently Netflix’s “The Waterfront,” which began streaming last month.
Noted on its socials, TW Cast has “RJ Decker” rolling for four days, beginning July 20. Current needs include a lens test stand-in for Speedman’s character, which would be a Caucasian male, with medium brown hair and light complexion, in his 40s to 50s. Interested parties can learn more here.
The group is also looking to fill roles for a “Florida Man headliner,” bar patrons, baliffs and sheriffs, attorneys, and a tall person in a clown mask. Follow for more information about the roles here.
“RJ Decker” is one of only a handful to film in Wilmington in what’s otherwise been a slow year for the local industry.
In the first part of 2025, the comedy “Driver’s Ed” — produced by a new company from local Jonas Pate “(“Outer Banks,” “The Runarounds”) and featuring Molly Shannon, Kumail Nanjiani and Sam Nivola — filmed in town. It’s written by Thomas Moffett and directed by Bobby Farrelly.
More recently, local filmmaker Erica Dunton also shot her feature film “Pretty Ugly.”
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