Clyde Phillips recently reflected on the early days of Dexter, revealing what ultimately convinced him to come aboard as showrunner.
Later this year, Dexter will celebrate 20 years since its television debut, marking a huge milestone for one of the most beloved shows of all time. While Paramount has yet to announce any official plans for the occasion, it's hard to imagine the anniversary passing without some kind of celebration.
As we wait to see what may be in store, Dexter showrunner Clyde Phillips recently reflected on the show's early days and actually revealed some interesting details about the period leading up to its October 1, 2006 premiere.
Speaking with Collider, Phillips expressed his gratitude for still being part of the franchise nearly two decades later. During the interview, he also shared what ultimately convinced him to take on the role of showrunner for the original series.
The answer was simple: Michael C. Hall.
According to Phillips, Hall was the biggest reason he wanted to be involved with Dexter. He described Hall as an exceptional actor, one of the smartest people he knows, and someone he continues to admire after all these years working together.
For everyone who actually like to read Dexter-realted interviews, Phillips' praise will come as no surprise. Over the years, cast and crew members have spoken highly of Hall, not only for his talent but also for the positive experience of working alongside him.
The interview also included an interesting revelation about the original Dexter pilot episode.
Phillips explained that the pilot had already been filmed in Miami in 2005 before it was offered to him. After watching it, he proposed some changes that he felt would improve the episode. The producers agreed with his ideas, leading to parts of the episode being rewritten and reshot before the series officially premiered.
Looking back on that period, Phillips explained that once he became involved, he suggested changes to the pilot and worked with the team to improve it before it reached audiences. At the same time, he actually made it clear that Michael C. Hall remained the biggest reason he wanted to be part of the series in the first place.
This definitely raises an interesting question as Dexter approaches its 20th anniversary.
If parts of the original pilot were reshot, there is unused footage that has never been released to the public. It is worth noting that over the years, Dexter has become one of the very few TV shows that has never released deleted scenes, or even blooper reels from its original run or its spinoffs.
And that is why the upcoming anniversary actually is the perfect opportunity to finally open the vault.
Whether it's deleted scenes from the pilot, footage from the reshoots, or behind-the-scenes material from the early seasons, fans would no doubt be excited to see content that has remained unseen for nearly two decades. As Dexter celebrates 20 years this October, releasing some of that material would be a great way to honor the show's history and give longtime viewers especially, something special to enjoy.