Eric Stonestreet Was ‘Flattered’ to Be Asked to Play a Serial Killer on ‘Dexter: Resurrection’ (Exclusive) originally appeared on Parade.
Dexter has always had a litany of phenomenal guest stars who appear in the show as serial killers. Over the years, John Lithgow, Jimmy Smits and Colin Hanks have all taken their turns as a nemesis to Dexter (Michael C. Hall). But with Dexter: Resurrection comes a whole list of high-profile guest stars. For months, fans have been hypothesizing which one might be the big bad that faces off with our favorite avenger. Neil Patrick Harris? Peter Dinklage? Uma Thurman? Turns out, it’s basically all of them!
🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬
Episode 4 of the Paramount+ and Showtime series delivers a spectacular twist when Dexter, posing as the elusive killer “Red,” finds himself at a dinner party where nearly every guest is a murderer. It’s at that party, hosted by ultra wealthy Leon Prater (played by Dinklage), that Dexter meets Rapunzel (Eric Stonestreet), The Gemini Killer (David Dastmalchian) and Lady Vengeance (Krysten Ritter).
The three actors playing these devious characters sat down with Parade to talk about being cast in the roles, getting to play in the world of horror and performing on screen with Michael C. Hall.
Related: ‘Dexter’ Spinoff Turns Heads With New Reviews — Here’s What the Critics Are Saying
The episode is such a fun way to introduce all of these characters. Eric, I’ll start with you: talk to me about introducing your character.What was it like playing a serial killer?
Eric Stonestreet: I was just stoked that they called and asked me to do it. I had been a fan of Dexter for a long time. It was when Modern Family happened, so I had lost track of it. But when Clyde [Phillips] and Scott [Reynolds] called and said, “Hey, we’d love for you to do this”, I was flattered. A. Because they thought of me. And B. it’s a world that I’d always wanted to play in. It was great. And then when I found out people I knew were also part of it, it just really made it even that much more special. But great, great case. Great crew. Everybody’s just awesome to work with.
No reservations about the fact that they imagined you as a serial killer?
Eric: Well, the description that he gave me of my character sort of really made it simple. I was kind of the last guy you see coming, which is really fun for me to play. In the spirit of The Trinity Killer, John Lithgow, who is one of my favorite actors ever, I just said, “Well, if John can do it, I can sure give it the old collegiate try.” So I was very excited. I hope people are willing to check their imaginations at the door and understand that this is a fun character that we created together. I hope people love it.
David, what about you? You’re pretty familiar with the world of horror, but there is a campy vibe to this episode as well. What was set like as you all played off each other?
David Dastmalchian: Well, first, I’ve got to go back and say that I’ve known Eric for a long time. We’re both from Kansas City and we’re old friends. So, when I heard that he was going to get to be a serial killer, I was so excited. I got to tell everybody, “It’s so juicy, getting to watch what he does”. Krysten and I are longtime friends now. We know each other through being parents of kids that go to the same school.
So in the world of horror and mayhem and serial killers, I’ve gotten to play in that space a good deal. This one was special for me, and even though in Episode 4, we get introduced to Gareth, there are so many layers to the character and nuances and secrets that give me this very special advantage over the competition, if you will. But also, that gave me an incredible challenge as an actor. It was something to really dig into that I’d never gotten to do before. I can’t say much more because I don’t like to give spoilers away. I am a big fan of Clue. And there were moments when I was sitting on set, looking around me at all these brilliant actors going, “This feels a little bit like getting to be my own version of Clue“.
Related: Michael C. Hall Admits Previous ‘Dexter’ Finales ‘Didn’t Sit Well With People’ (Exclusive)
And Krysten, what about you? I was picking up on some love interest vibes between you and Dexter.That feels like a dangerous spot to be in on a show like this: The love interest of Dexter.
Krysten Ritter: Yeah, so Scott Reynolds and I worked together on Jessica Jones, so they wrote this part for me. It was all the things that I absolutely love to do, and it was such a delicious character. It’s so rare, also, to see a female serial killer, and the way she goes about it is very different from[her] male counterparts. I had the most fun, and working with Eric and David was a dream. Most of my scenes were with Michael C. Hall.
Eric: Bragging! [Laughs.]
Krysten: Well, yes. But watching him change was wild.
Eric: Agreed.
Krysten: We would do the wide a couple of times, then do my coverage, and then you would get his close-up. And it’s just like I was watching him as an audience member and just thinking, “What is he doing?” He is just very impressive — such an impressive, charismatic and just incredible actor. It was really a gift to get to work with him.
Dexter: Resurrection streams weekly on Paramount+, premiering on Fridays for Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers, before an on-air debut Sunday at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Related: Fans Praise ‘Dexter’ Star for Leaving ‘Suffocating’ Marriage
Eric Stonestreet Was ‘Flattered’ to Be Asked to Play a Serial Killer on ‘Dexter: Resurrection’ (Exclusive) first appeared on Parade on Jul 25, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
