Michael C. Hall talks Mortality and the New Season of Dexter

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Whilst there are no leaked previews of the new season floating around online like previous years, fans will have to wait and tune in to the premiere this Sunday the 26th on Showtime. For now there are a few promos that give a glimpse at the new season as well as the opening scene. Dexter star Michael C. Hall who recently battled cancer continued to work like a true pro. Check out the surreal Inception like promo for season 5:

When he was recently interview by Mike Hale of the New York Times, the Dexter star opened up about the challenges that he’s faced recently and the fatalistic view of his life set in motion by the loss of his father at aged 39 to prostate cancer when he was only 11. For Michael who has just battled his own cancer, he was always watchful of the impending birthday and wondered if he would make it past the fateful date, however when he was diagnosed he faced it like a champ and used the situation to find a new perspective on life.

Michael C. Hall. Photo: Kevin Scanlon - The New York Times

I think I’ve been preoccupied since I was 11, and my father died, with the idea of the age 39: Would I live that long? What would that be like?…..To discover that I had the Hodgkin’s was alarming, but at the same time I felt kind of bemused, like: Wow. Huh. How interesting.

Hall learned of his diagnosis whilst still filming  Season 4 but he had a calm approach and kept his condition a secret til production had wrapped. He began treatment the next day, and the cancer is now in remission, he turned 39 in February. His wife Jennifer Carpenter who plays Debra Morgan were married at the end of season 3 and when she learned of the cancer she recalled how she cried for couple of days, but looking at her husbands strength, was able to steady herself for both their sakes, she said:

The triumph of a man, to have gone through something like that and not even give the crew any suspicions that he was in any sort of need, it’s impressive…..And I’m not sure he ever would have told anyone about it had he not been expected at those award ceremonies.

Hall also talked about the feelings that he’s lived with over the years had attributed to some form of emotional repression which he was able to channel into his Six Feet Under character and now his famous serial killer persona, he remarked:

Maybe it has to do with not knowing quite what to do with the storm of feelings that accompanied my father’s death. Maybe it’s a learned behavior …(smiling) …Now I’m taking it to the bank.

The newest cast member and big name name to join the list celebs to call Dexter home each season is the actress Julia Stiles, and whilst little has been revealed about the new character what is known is that she plays a mysterious young woman who forms a unique relationship with Dexter in the wake of Rita’s death. Hall said of the new character:

There will certainly be adversaries, but it’s more plural and as far as Julia’s role, it’s not an adversarial relationship…You know, Dexter’s yet to get involved in any significant way with someone he hasn’t ended up killing, so we’ll see if he can manage.

Though the question remains how long will the show continue especially since the series has made a significant departure from the original novels. Hall said how the writers of the show had done a good job of maintaining the justification which allow viewers to sympathize with the dark character, but he thinks that time will run out for Dexter sooner than later.

With the way the fourth season ended, the suggestion seems to be that there are consequences. And it’s hard to imagine it ultimately ending well for him

The new show-runner Chip Johannessen has talked about the foreboding issues that continue to close in on the writers and of the likelihood of Debra Morgan discovering her brothers secret and also Dexter’s gradual progression to a more human place, when either happens, the show could be over.

I think it’s going to be up to Michael

As an executive producer of the show, Hall will have a say in the nature of Dexter’s fate and he continues to see how human he can make the character who doesn’t believe in his own humanity.

When I first encountered the character, my first question was: Is this a person who could ever be? Really…….And I’m still not sure. I think I’m coming closer and closer to believing that he’s real. And I think Dexter’s coming closer and closer to believing that he’s real too.

Take a look at the first minutes of the new season:

Catch an All-New Dexter this Sunday the 26th on Showtime.

source: The New York Times

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