Because Grey's Anatomy has been a beloved television touchstone on ABC for over two decades and counting, fans have grown accustomed to frequent casting changes. I mean, the title character doesn't even appear in every episode anymore. Some seasons have more shakeups than others, with multiple stars leaving and the main cast being a revolving door of new faces.
Scott Speedman was one of those new faces when he made his debut on the series in a guest star role as Dr. Nick Marsh in season 14. The actor later returned to Grey's Anatomy in season 18 as a series regular and remained part of the main cast for season 19. However, Speedman's role has been recurring since season 20. With his new series on ABC, will he officially exit the series?
It's a question that's surely at the top of mind for every Grey's Anatomy fan who loves Dr. Marsh, especially with ABC heavily promoting RJ Decker and the new crime drama getting a decent push on Hulu and Disney+. But even with a demanding new starring role as the title character of his own series, Speedman has revealed that he won't be leaving Grey's Anatomy anytime soon.
Scott Speedman isn't leaving Grey's Anatomy for RJ Decker
Right now, Speedman will be juggling his leading role as RJ Decker in the new ABC series with his recurring role in Grey's Anatomy. It's an unconventional setup that's not too common on the small screen, especially for broadcast television, but ABC's helping make the balancing act work across two coasts. Grey's films in Los Angeles, California, and RJ Decker films in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Speedman explained the logistics to People magazine, as he recently had an overlap in filming both shows: "We're about to do something where I have to go back and do Grey's Anatomy. So, we're just trying to figure that out now. Wilmington, for all its great qualities, is not the easiest place to get in and out of... just getting back during this weather is going to be interesting, but we're going to do it."
During his interview with the outlet in February 2026, the East Coast of the United States was in the midst of a challenging snowstorm, but those snowy conditions won't always be a factor in shuffling between Grey's and RJ Decker when his production schedules intersect. Even though the bicoastal dual roles surely present obvious obstacles, Speedman seemed optimistic about making it work.
"In terms of creatively, I've been doing Grey's now for a number of years, so I'll just slip into that. And then shoot there for a couple days and jump on a plane and shoot here. So, we'll see. Ask me later because I haven't done it yet, but I'm sure it'll go well," the actor told People.
RJ Decker made its premiere on ABC's Tuesday night lineup on March 3 following a new episode of hit series High Potential, and while the debut episode posted decent ratings, it's still too soon too tell whether the network will renew the show for season 2. A decision will likely come later this spring as ABC finalizes its 2026-2027 schedule, and that's where Speedman's future could get interesting.
If ABC renews RJ Decker for season 2, Speedman could possibly have less time to dedicate to his role on Grey's Anatomy, but it's not necessarily the end of the road for Dr. Marsh. The network has been capping a lot of its drama series at a certain amount of episodes, which means RJ Decker could have a reduced order. That would obviously allow him to continue recurring on Grey's.
Not to mention, if ABC keeps the new detective drama on in midseason in the event of a renewal, Speedman could recur more often in the front half of Grey's Anatomy seasons, since it's a show that airs in the fall. See? Where there's a will, there's a way, so long as Nick Marsh remains a living, breathing character in the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital universe.