When Michael C. Hall Gave Patrick Gibson His ‘Dexter’ Blessing

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As a longtime Dexter fan, I was initially skeptical when I heard about the return of this iconic series with a new cast and timeline. However, after watching the premiere of Dexter: Original Sin, I have to admit that my doubts were quickly put to rest. The way they’ve seamlessly passed the torch from Michael C. Hall‘s grizzled Dexter to Patrick Gibson’s wide-eyed intern is nothing short of impressive.

[This story contains major spoilers from the season premiere of Dexter: Original Sin.]

In the show “Dexter: Original Sin“, the narrative shifts back to a younger version of Dexter Morgan, portrayed by Patrick Gibson, who is working as an intern in the Miami Metro forensics department in 1991. This move serves to transition the character from Michael C. Hall’s grizzled, elusive serial killer persona that we see in the present day.

Gibson seamlessly embodies the antihero viewers came to intimately know across eight seasons of the hit Showtime series that concluded in 2013, followed by a bonus year with the 2021 limited series New Blood. Now, Hall is an executive producer on Original Sin, where he continues to voice Dexter’s inner monologue throughout the 10-episode season. With the premiere that released on Friday, the Dexter franchise quite literally roared back to life by resurrecting Dexter (played in an onscreen appearance by Hall). That surprise revelation succeeds in undoing the New Blood ending, where creator Clyde Phillips had left Dexter bleeding in the snow and confirmed in interviews that Dexter was, in fact, dead.

Reviving Dexter’s character in “Original Sin” (a precursor to the upcoming series in the Dexter franchise, “Resurrection,” slated for summer 2025 and featuring Hall), might elevate the tension levels further by revisiting Gibson’s portrayal of this intriguing figure.

However, it was clear from the start that there was a connection between Gibson and Hall, leading Hall to grant his approval for the 29-year-old Irish actor.

Gibson shares with The Hollywood Reporter that he had his initial encounter with Michael during a table read, marking their first instance of working together back-to-back. He recounts this experience as the most nerve-wracking moment in the entire process. Later on, Michael emailed him about the role, expressing his confidence and kindness by saying, “I think Dexter is in good hands,” and “this is now yours to shape your interpretation.” Gibson found his words incredibly generous.

Gibson mentions, “He offered some truly remarkable thoughts about Dexter which clarified certain aspects and posed queries that I’d been pondering.

Gibson stated that he didn’t have a chance to meet Hall until the initial table read, as his work during the series involved collaborating with Phillips, the initial showrunner of Dexter who departed after season four, and Michael Lehmann, who has teamed up again with Christian Slater from their Heathers days. In this new iteration, Slater takes on the role of Dexter’s father, a younger version of Harry Morgan (previously played by James Remar). Meanwhile, Molly Brown steps into the shoes originally filled by Jennifer Carpenter as Sister Deb.

Sarah Michelle Gellar remarks, “It was clear at that table read that what we were experiencing was authentic magic.” She’s part of a cast with many recognizable faces, taking on a fresh role. Paddy and Michael C. Hall had to participate remotely due to illness and being out of state respectively, but even over Zoom, it felt as though they were right there with us. We sat in a room with a large TV displaying Michael and Paddy side by side, and the seamless flow of their dialogue made it appear as if they had rehearsed together for years. In that moment, I knew – ‘Ah, this just works.’

In the first episode of “Original Sin,” Sarah Michelle Gellar appears for the first time. This takes place when 20-year-old Dexter secures an internship at Miami Metro homicide offices, where his father is a detective, alongside the characters Detective Angel Batista, forensic analyst Vince Masuka, and Detective Maria LaGuerta (portrayed by James Martinez, Alex Shimizu, and Christina Milian in “Original Sin”). Sarah Michelle Gellar’s character, Tanya Martin, is the head of the department and serves as a mentor to the young intern Dexter. Additionally, Patrick Dempsey introduces a new character as the department captain in this series.

If asked to revisit her younger self, Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s famous icon, Sarah Michelle Gellar, has revealed that the franchises she had always expressed a desire to be part of were Dexter and James Bond. Living one of those dream moments now, Gellar shares that she and Gibson share a significant on-screen relationship as the series unfolds, comparing their characters Tanya and Dexter to key figures in Star Wars.

Tanya significantly impacts Dexter, as she revealed to THR. Inadvertently, she’s the one who guides him into becoming the exceptional serial killer portrayed in the original series. This has considerable significance because she believes she’s molding Anakin Skywalker, but in reality, she’s shaping Darth Vader.

As a gamer, I remember the time when I chatted with Phillips about casting the character from ‘Original Sin’. He mentioned that the entire team was his initial picks, and the moment he saw Gibson, he knew he could embody the young Dexter. We scoured through countless audition tapes until our eyes were sore, but Paddy stood out. I invited him to the studio right away, spent about an hour with him, and was impressed by his appearance and physique – he’s roughly the same size as Michael C. Hall. To top it off, he’s a dedicated fan of the series. We watched him perform, and we felt confident that we had found what we were searching for. For the first time in my career, I can say with conviction: We landed our top choices!

Should everything proceed smoothly, Phillips, who additionally clarified the reasoning behind reviving Dexter following the final episode of New Blood, expressed his intention for both Original Sin and the upcoming Resurrection to span across numerous seasons. He stated, “The response has been very positive, and I’m optimistic.” Production for Resurrection commences in January, while Original Sin airs new episodes weekly (on Paramount+ every Friday and Sunday nights at 10 p.m. on Showtime). Delve into THR’s comprehensive article on rekindling Dexter.

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2024-12-14 20:25