Nearly two decades after Michael C. Hall made Dexter a cultural phenomenon, the actor is back in Showtime's Dexter: Resurrection, a new 10-episode series premiering July 11. Emmy talks to Hall, his costars and producers about bringing the iconic character and series back from the dead. The award-winning official publication of the Television Academy is on sale June 12.
When Dexter launched in 2006, it was an immediate hit and quickly became Showtime’s most-watched original series. Hall, who was coming off a five-season run on Six Feet Under, had no intention of joining another series but couldn’t pass on the opportunity to play Dexter Morgan, a serial killer whose unique brand of justice compelled him to only murder the “guilty.” He loved the pilot script but was surprised by the show’s initial success. “I felt like there was a decent chance we’d find a little niche audience,” Hall says. “But I had no inkling it would be so broadly appealing or that the character would abide in the way he has.”
Actor James Remar, who was cast as Dexter’s adoptive father Harry in the series, attributes the show’s success to its vulnerable, flawed and dark characters. “I think that [relatability] is the strength of the show — and the center of it is Michael C. Hall,” Remar says. “I can't imagine anyone else being Dexter.”
Following the success of the original series, Dexter resurfaced in 2021 in the limited series Dexter: New Blood, set 10 years later. Then came the prequel series, Dexter: Original Sin, in 2024. This latest chapter may come as a surprise to fans, as Dexter appeared to have died in the New Blood finale.
In “Kill Joy,” Hall, who is also an executive producer of the Dexter franchise, talks about the resurrection of the character. He recalls joking with director-executive producer Marcos Siega that they should shoot an alternate ending for New Blood. “I think without articulating it, we both, maybe all of us, had some subconscious suspicion that it wasn't the end,” Hall says. The new series emerged from a subsequent conversation between Hall and Siega. “I said, ‘I know this is crazy, but what if that gunshot didn't actually kill him?’ And Marcos was interested in exploring that notion. I spoke to [executive producer, writer and showrunner] Clyde Phillips about it, then [senior creative advisor for Showtime Networks] Gary Levine; and the next thing I knew, ideas were swirling around, and it gained its own momentum.”
As he shoots the new series, Hall, who feels this installment offers Dexter a chance to refocus, says, “It's such a unique experience to return to and reconsider a character nearly two decades from the pilot episode.”
Additional feature highlights from the new issue include:
In “American Dad,” actor John Goodman reflects on his journey from television commercials to Broadway, to film roles and ultimately to his iconic portrayals of Dan Conner in Roseanne and The Conners and Eli Gemstone, the patriarch of a televangelist family in The Righteous Gemstones. Having played two very different father figures over the past seven years, the Emmy-winning actor shares his thoughts on the conclusions of both series, his experiences with his on-screen families and the people he’ll miss most.
“The Devil Is in the Details” offers a behind-the-scenes look at Daredevil: Born Again, set 10 years after the original series. Costume designer Emily Gunshor, stunt coordinator Philip Silvera and production designer Michael Shaw reveal how their work brings the gritty world of Daredevil to life — from carefully crafted costumes to intense stunts and stark, realistic sets. Each detail helps build a grounded, gritty version of New York, where this new superhero series unfolds.
In “FoodTube,” YouTube’s culinary content creators reveal the ingredients behind their hit shows — like Last Meals and Snack Wars — which have racked up millions of views and served up a smorgasbord of content. From celebrity feasts and global food adventures to viral taste tests, these programs go far beyond the boundaries of traditional cooking shows, redefining what food entertainment can be.
Download the press release here.
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breakwhitelight for the Television Academy