The former Modern Family star revealed intriguing details about his role in the Dexter sequel.
Over the past few months, Dexter: Resurrection — the highly anticipated continuation of the iconic Showtime franchise — has made major waves by doing something no previous season of Dexter has done: casting back-to-back A-list stars to shape the next dark chapter in Dexter Morgan’s life.
Leading the star-studded lineup are none other than Uma Thurman and Peter Dinklage, two widely respected and multigenerational talents who have officially signed on as series regulars. Their involvement alone has elevated excitement for the sequel series, but they’re not the only high-profile names attached.
Joining the expanding cast is Eric Stonestreet, best known for his Emmy-winning comedic role as Cameron Tucker on ABC’s Modern Family, which ran for 11 successful seasons. However, this time, fans can expect something completely different.
While Thurman and Dinklage are set to appear throughout the first season, Stonestreet will be featured in a guest-starring role that takes a sharp turn from his usual comedic work. According to casting news released over two months ago, Stonestreet has been tapped to play Al, a suspected serial killer — a character shrouded in mystery until now.
Eric Stonestreet Talks About His Dark Role in Dexter: Resurrection
In a new interview with Reader’s Digest, Eric Stonestreet offered a rare glimpse into his new role. Though he remains tight-lipped due to contractual obligations with Showtime, he did share a few tantalizing details about portraying Al.
When asked how production is going and what he's allowed to reveal, Stonestreet expressed gratitude for being part of the beloved franchise and praised the working environment:
"Well, I’m allowed to say that I’m going to work on it again tomorrow at a very early time. But it’s been great sharing space with [stars] Michael C. Hall and Peter Dinklage and Uma Thurman and the whole gang. It’s a tip-top operation over there, and I’m very impressed. I’m flattered that [the producers] called and thought of me for the role of Al."
He also offered some backstory about Al, the character he's portraying:
"He’s from Wisconsin. In my mind, he grew up outside Chicago. He’s some sort of salesman, he travels around and he’s a bit of a man-child. The wardrobe people have so brilliantly given me clothes to wear that reflects that maybe I never grew up after 1991. And yeah, I’m intermixed with a bunch of not-so-great people. You can take from that what you want."
When prompted about shifting from comedy to a much darker tone, Stonestreet playfully acknowledged the contrast — while reminding fans of his earlier, darker roles:
"Make no mistake—I’m still the funniest one in the group. So I’m bringing humor, just maybe not the kind of humor you’re used to seeing from me. But as I always remind people, I killed a lot of people on TV [as serial killer Malcolm Boatright on The Mentalist] before I got the good, good blessing of being cast in Modern Family. I always thought I’d make it big on a procedural drama of some kind."
What Stonestreet's Role Could Mean for the Dexter Universe
With Stonestreet now confirmed as a part of Dexter: Resurrection, fans are eager to see how his unique take on Al will integrate with Dexter Morgan’s new life. Will Al be a one-off villain, or does his backstory suggest a more complex connection to Dexter’s own code?
Recent set photos have given fans a first look at Stonestreet in character — a far cry from his usual cheerful onscreen persona. You can check out those images here.
If you're interested, you can read the full Eric Stonestreet interview on Reader’s Digest here.
As we await an official premiere date for Dexter: Resurrection, one thing is clear: this season is stacking up to be the most ambitious yet, with bold casting choices and unexpected twists. Stay tuned for more updates as Showtime releases new details in the coming weeks.
Photo by Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images