EXCLUSIVE: Weruche Opia (I May Destroy You, Genius MLK/X) has been cast in ABC‘s one-hour drama pilot RJ Decker, joining the previously announced Scott Speedman. Rob Doherty created the series based on the 1987 novel Double Whammy by Carl Hiaasen.
RJ Decker (Speedman), disgraced newspaper photographer and ex-con, starts over as a private investigator in the colorful-if-crime-filled world of South Florida, 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, a woman from his past who could be his greatest ally… or his one-way ticket back to prison.
Opia will play Shay Bennett, the shrewd-if-unpredictable daughter of a very powerful, very corrupt state senator with ties to RJ’s past. If the pilot gets picked up to series, Opia is positioned for a series regular role.
Executive producers include Doherty, who wrote the pilot, Paul McGuigan, who will also direct, Carl Hiaasen, Carl Beverly, and Sarah Timberman. 20th Television is the studio.
Opia is best known for portraying aspiring actress and best friend Terry in the critically acclaimed and award-winning series I May Destroy You for HBO from Michaela Coel. She subsequently received a BAFTA TV nomination for Best Supporting Actress as well as a shared Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Ensemble Cast.
Opia just completed filming Netflix’s Ladies First opposite Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike. She will soon be seen in the Amazon limited series Quarter Life, starring as Riz Ahmed’s agent. She recently starred as Coretta Scott King in Gina Prince-Bythewood’s Genius MLK/X on Hulu/Disney+, alongside Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Aaron Pierre. Additionally, Opia starred on the BBC 1 limited series The Jetty, playing investigative journalist Riz. She is repped by Anonymous Content, Curtis Brown, and SOWDLLP.
