John Lithgow’s Trinity Killer Returns in Dexter: Resurrection!

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In the original series, Michael C. Hall’s character Dexter Morgan encountered several unforgettable antagonists, but none are as fondly recalled as John Lithgow’s character, Arthur Mitchell, also known as The Trinity Killer. This character is so highly regarded that he not only has a prequel series similar to “Dexter: Original Sin” in the works, but he will reappear in “Dexter: Resurrection,” the follow-up show that continues from where “New Blood” ended in 2021. However, since Trinity was killed off at the end of Dexter Season 4, his return may not last long.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I can’t help but share my excitement about recent updates in the world of cinema. In an intriguing chat on Variety’s Know their Lines, the talented John Lithgow (who’s now bringing Albus Dumbledore to life in HBO’s revival of Harry Potter) spoke about his role in the upcoming sequel of Dexter: Resurrection. He hinted at how his character, The Trinity Killer, will intertwine with Dexter’s storyline. Much like others who were close to Dexter and have moved on, John mentioned that his character will be back, but only in a spirit-like form.

As a passionate cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that the Michael C. Hall-led version of Dexter is getting a reboot! Here’s an intriguing twist: It seems our beloved anti-hero didn’t meet his end after all. Instead, he’s returning in a strange, spectral form, gradually regaining life on a hospital bed.

The way it unfolds mirrors the beginning of “Dexter: Original Sin” that premiered in December last year. Fans might remember that the show started with Dexter being rushed to the hospital due to his son, Harrison, shooting him. Contrary to what appeared to be Dexter’s demise at the end of “New Blood,” he is indeed still alive and recuperating in a hospital bed somewhere. It can be expected that this will be the starting point for “Resurrection” when it airs later this summer, with a guest appearance by Trinity Killer, played by John Lithgow, to initiate the events.

John Lithgow Explains the “Blandness” of The Trinity Killer

Fans of true crime will likely recognize that the character of The Trinity Killer in Dexter shares similarities with various serial killers from history who seemed ordinary and law-abiding on the outside, but harbored a hidden, dark secret. This secret could be referred to as a “shadow self.” One of the most well-known examples is Dennis Rader, who managed to maintain a family life for many years while also committing crimes as the BTK Killer.

The notion proved advantageous for Lithgow when he assumed the character of Arthur Mitchell, a role he claims was modeled not just on Rader, but also on other seemingly ordinary men with an insatiable bloodlust, as portrayed by the writers of “Dexter.” As he explained to Variety, “The writers had crafted this character very much in the likeness of numerous, quite ordinary and unremarkable individuals who harbored a terrifying dark side.

A critique by TV Guide on Dexter praised me extensively, yet they described me as a ‘monotonous, featureless male.’ I decided to view this remark positively and see it as a form of flattery since my aim was to portray a character that is unremarkably ordinary.

Lithgow skillfully portrayed The Trinity Killer in “Dexter,” initially convincingly playing an ordinary character until his true identity was unveiled. Catch up on all past seasons of “Dexter” currently streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime, and stay tuned for the premiere of “Dexter: Resurrection” this summer.

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2025-03-14 19:03