The renowned actor shared that he enjoyed filming the scene with Lowell wrapped in plastic.
Warning: This article contains spoilers for Dexter: Resurrection Season 1, Episode 4.
Dexter: Resurrection wasted no time introducing high-profile talent into its dark, twisted world — and among the most talked-about additions this season was Emmy and Tony Award winner Neil Patrick Harris.
Known for his legendary role as Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother and his chilling turn in Gone Girl, Harris made waves when it was announced back in March that he'd be joining the Dexter universe. The excitement among fans was palpable, and expectations were sky-high.
Harris appeared in Episode 4, titled "Call Me Red", as Lowell, a serial killer with a disturbing obsession: he collects tattoos from his victims. Introduced during the much-hyped serial killer gathering, Lowell immediately stood out — not just for his peculiar rituals, but also for his unnerving arrogance. It didn’t take long for fans to realize he wasn’t destined for a long arc.
By the end of the same episode, Lowell found himself on Dexter Morgan’s infamous table — a twist that left many viewers frustrated, craving more screen time for Harris’s character. But as Harris would later explain, the brief nature of the role didn’t lessen the appeal — in fact, it was part of what drew him in.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Harris opened up about stepping into the Dexter world, calling the opportunity a pleasant surprise rather than something he actively pursued. While he wasn't a hardcore fan of the original series, he’d seen most of Season 1 and had great admiration for Michael C. Hall’s performance. His husband, however, was a Dexter superfan — something Harris joked gave him extra motivation to say yes.
When asked what appealed to him about playing Lowell, Harris explained that he’s always been intrigued by ensemble mystery settings — the kind where a group of eccentric characters are trapped in a space, unsure who will be the next to die. He compared the vibe to an Agatha Christie novel or a Scream-style whodunnit. The idea of joining an ensemble full of twisted killers, all circling one another, was simply too good to pass up.
And what an ensemble it was.
Reflecting on his time filming the lavish dinner scene at the Leon Porter Mansion — where multiple serial killers share a meal in an elegant yet deeply disturbing setting — Harris admitted the experience felt "surreal". Surrounded by acting heavyweights like Uma Thurman, Peter Dinklage, and Michael C. Hall, he described moments of impostor syndrome. Everyone, he said, was laser-focused on bringing their A-game. But the vibe on set wasn’t cold or distant. In fact, Harris emphasized just how communal the energy was. Actors weren’t disappearing into their trailers between takes; they were hanging out, supporting each other, and even cracking jokes.
Despite the heavy subject matter, the dinner scene turned out to be unexpectedly hilarious behind the scenes. Harris recalled how co-stars like Eric and Peter developed instant chemistry, with Michael and Krysten Ritter joining in on the fun. Between takes, the cast would improvise, tease each other, and share inside jokes.
But the tone shifted when it came time to film that scene, the moment Dexter catches Lowell in his web.
Being wrapped in plastic and placed on Dexter’s table — a rite of passage for some guest stars in the franchise — was an intense experience, but Harris appreciated the attention to detail. Rather than hastily wrapping him in clingfilm, the production team had measured his body and created custom panels to ensure both safety and comfort. Still, he noted, the physical strain of lying still for hours began to take its toll. The heat, the restriction — it all contributed to the visceral realism that makes Dexter scenes so unsettling to watch.
As Harris lay on the table, watching Michael C. Hall hover above with surgical precision, he was struck by the visual power of the moment. It felt cinematic, almost meta, as if he had become the lens through which the audience sees Dexter in every promo shot: arms raised, knife glinting in the light, poised to strike.
“It felt,” Harris said, “like checking something off the bucket list — in a twisted way.”
While some fans were disappointed to see Harris’s character dispatched so quickly, there's no denying that his brief role made a lasting impression. With Dexter: Resurrection proving to be a reinvention of the franchise, even a single-episode appearance can become a memorable piece of its legacy.