The short-lived series from the creator of Dexter starred Anne Hathaway and Jesse Eisenberg in the leading roles.
It’s been 20 years since Clyde Phillips became closely associated with Dexter, yet many fans may not realize that long before America’s favorite serial killer ever appeared on screen, Phillips was involved in other television projects that never reached the same level of success.
One of those forgotten efforts was a short-lived series from 1999 titled Get Real, a show that actually laid the groundwork for several future stars and, interestingly enough, connects back to the Dexterverse in an unexpected way. Get Real was a Fox comedy-drama centered on a dysfunctional family navigating midlife crises, and growing pains of teenagers. The series aired from September 1999 to April 2000 and was cancelled after just one season.
Despite its brief run, the show became a notable early stepping stone for Anne Hathaway and Jesse Eisenberg, both of whom actually went on to become major names in Hollywood. While the series itself ended up fading into obscurity, its legacy lives on through the careers it helped launch.
What many Dexter fans did not know until recently is that an actress from Dexter: Original Sin also appeared on Get Real, albeit briefly. That actress was Christina Milian, who was just 18 years old at the time. Milian appeared in three episodes of the series in the role of Tennisha, marking an early television credit just years before her rise as a singer and actress.
This little-known connection was revealed during Clyde Phillips’ appearance on The Dark Passengers Podcast, where he discussed the now-cancelled plans for Dexter: Original Sin Season 2. In that conversation, Phillips revealed Milian’s involvement in Get Real, a detail that had actually flown under the radar for many people out there.
25 years later, Phillips and Milian’s paths crossed again with Dexter: Original Sin. After an extensive search for the right actress to portray a younger version of Maria LaGuerta, Milian ultimately landed the role. Her casting and performance became one of the standout elements of the prequel, earning praise from fans, and making her portrayal as one of the show’s highlights.
The fact that Clyde Phillips and Christina Milian reunited on a Dexter project more than two decades after their first collaboration is a reminder of how unpredictable careers in television and films can be.