The star of Dexter: Resurrection delved into the past to respond.
There's no doubt that Michael C. Hall—and much of the Dexter: Resurrection cast—have just wrapped up one of their most exhausting and emotionally charged weeks to date. The promotional campaign reached its peak this past week, putting the cast and crew through a whirlwind of appearances, interviews, and celebrations.
From iconic landmarks across New York City to the prestigious world premiere at Alice Tully Hall, the Dexter: Resurrection team has been everywhere. The red carpet event was packed with fans, industry insiders, and special guests—including us at Dexter Daily—all eager to witness the return of the iconic serial killer with a code.
But the real work happened behind the scenes. Michael C. Hall, in particular, took part in numerous press interviews, one of which was a standout sit-down with Jake Hamilton from the popular YouTube channel Jake’s Takes. During this candid conversation, Hall was asked to reflect on Dexter's origins, memorable kills, and the lessons he's taken from nearly two decades of playing one of television’s most complex antiheroes.
Michael C. Hall on His Very First Day as Dexter Morgan
When asked to recall the very first moment he stepped into Dexter’s shoes on set back in Season 1, Hall’s memory went straight to a haunting location—and a sense of uncertainty:
“Oh, wow. I feel like the first day of shooting was at that motel with the pool—where the chopped-up body was. I think the first thing we shot might’ve been me walking under the crime scene tape. It felt ceremonial, like, ‘Okay. Here he is. Who is he?’
He was a mystery to me then—and still is, in many ways. But I sensed we were on to something special. We were inviting an audience to empathize with someone like Dexter, and that required precision."
He continued: "In those early days, playing Dexter felt like laying bricks. Just one at a time, hoping they’d add up to something. Now, it feels like I’m standing in front of a mansion we’ve built. But back then? It was raw. It was mysterious. And it had a kind of magic.”
The Kill That Still Haunts Dexter—And Michael
Of all the chilling murders Dexter committed over the years, one stood out to Hall as especially significant—both personally and within the character’s journey:
“That first kill in the pilot—the guy who had buried those kids—that really stayed with me. It was the one that set the tone.
But for Dexter, I think the most haunting one was the Trinity Killer. That season with John Lithgow was unforgettable. Dexter killed Trinity with a strange kind of reverence—something he’d never done before—only to discover later that Trinity was the least deserving of that respect. That betrayal has haunted him ever since. That’s the one I always come back to.”
On What He Learned from the Original Series Finale
When asked what lessons he took from the original Dexter finale—especially as the team moves toward what’s being called the "true" conclusion—Hall offered a thoughtful and introspective response:
“Looking back, all the difficult turning points—Dexter putting himself into exile, or getting taken out by his son—those were necessary to get us where we are now.
Where we are now feels fresh and alive. But if I’ve learned anything, it’s that just because something makes narrative sense doesn’t mean it will resonate.
People don’t want to see Dexter disappear. They don’t want him to be defeated or destroyed.
So maybe, I don’t know... maybe he just needs to be shot into space,” he joked, a grin flashing across his face.
Watch Hall's interview on Jake's takes, below.