Newly surfaced photo reveal exactly why this actress was once in the running to play Charley Brown.
In TV and film, casting directors and producers carry the immense responsibility of finding the ideal actors to bring each character to life. It’s a process that can take months of auditions, endless discussions, and careful consideration, as each of the decisions shape the final product audiences see on screen.
Dexter has always been known for its great casting choices, and that tradition continued with the recently cancelled prequel Dexter: Original Sin. The team spent a great deal of time searching for actors who could convincingly portray younger versions of the beloved original characters, and it definitely worked.
But with Dexter: Resurrection, things were a bit different. Since most of the characters in this new chapter are entirely fresh, the casting process didn’t have the same “comparison factor” that Original Sin faced.
Even so, showrunner Clyde Phillips has mentioned in several interviews that he often manages to cast the actors who were his first choices from the start. However, as with any production, there were exceptions, and one of the most interesting ones involves the role of Charley Brown.
Uma Thurman, known for her iconic performances in Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill: Vol. 1 & 2, eventually landed the role of Charley, Leon Prater’s (Peter Dinklage) fixer and right hand. But before she joined the cast, another high-profile name was seriously considered: Gillian Anderson. Reports that surfaced in late 2024, initially dismissed as rumors, have since been confirmed, revealing that Anderson was in talks for the part.
Longtime Dexter Daily readers might already remember this tidbit, but recent images of Anderson from her Glass Magazine Autmun Issue photoshoot actually had as stunned, as in one of those photos, Anderson’s expression and presence capture the same cool, enigmatic energy that Uma Thurman brings to Charley in Dexter: Resurrection. It’s not hard to picture her getting perfectly into the role.
When comparing Anderson’s look in that shoot to Thurman’s on-screen performance, the similarities are very strong. Both women exude danger, which is something essential to a character as mysterious as Charley Brown. It’s a very interesting “what if” scenario that actually confirms just how much thought goes into every casting choice behind the scenes.
While Gillian Anderson might have been a more familiar face to television audiences thanks to her long and successful TV career with tons of credits, most famously as Dana Scully in The X-Files, casting Uma Thurman definitely brought a different kind of star power to the series. Thurman’s film legacy and rare appearances in television made her involvement in Dexter: Resurrection a massive win for the producers, instanlty elevating the profile of the show.
Now that the first season has wrapped, for many it’s hard to imagine anyone else as Charley Brown. Still, the idea of Gillian Anderson in the role remains an intriguing alternate reality for us to ponder.
What do you think after seeing the comparison? Now that we’ve watched Uma Thurman embody Charley through all ten episodes, do you think she was the perfect choice for the part, or can you still picture Gillian Anderson as Prater's protector?