Julie Benz who played the unsuspecting wife of everyone’s favorite vigilante serial killer Dexter Morgan, has returned to the hit show to reprise the role of Rita albeit in a limited capacity. In the shocking twist that most fans did not see coming, (Spoiler alert) the final moments revealed Rita fell victim to Trinity played by veteran actor John Lithgow.
John Lithgow as Trinity
Julie Benz as Rita
When E online interviewed Julie Benz regarding the axing of her character the question was posed whether the show would do the horrid ‘time jump’ which Desperate Housewives and Ghost Whisperer used to spice up their stories. Now we have a first look at the upcoming new season which debunks those rumors with the trailer revealing that the first episode picks up moments after the events of the finale with Dexter finding Rita’s slain body.
Julie Benz returned to film sequences recreating her death scene that would be impossible with a body double or a ‘CSI’ morgue dummy. It is likely she will be featured in a new set of flashbacks that may allow audiences to see her alive again and perhaps shine some light on the circumstances that led to her demise. Producers have dispelled rumors that Rita’s character might transfer into Dexter’s consciousness similar to Harry’s eternal voice which plays prominently in Dexter’s mind, the word is that Julie Benz is only contracted to appear in the initial episode. The actress having made the rounds on Wisteria Lane has now landed her own series co-starring Shield actor Michael Chiklis in ABC’s new super-powered drama ‘No Ordinary People’.
Despite losing her role she commended producers for taking such a risky step and hoped that it would up the ante and propel Dexter’s character further. In talking with E Online she gave a fascinating insight into how she hoped the story would progress in the new season.
When you make a bold move to kill off a main character, and a bold move to kill off the mother of a newborn, it’s a fifty-fifty shot, and kudos to them for taking that risk. So many other shows, so many other networks would have shied away from it. I really hope that it pays off, because I would really hate to see Rita’s death be in vain and to lose viewers. I hope it catapults the show to a whole other level. I hope it opens the story up to so much more drama. I hope it opens Dexter up to finally releasing the Dark Passenger within him—let’s see the monster that he really is.
For the uber talented Michael C. Hall who recently battled cancer, it seems that he hasn’t missed a beat and has immersed himself into this new chapter of Dexter’s life. Aceshowbiz.com reported that during his treatment and whilst shooting the film East Fifth Bliss with Lucy Lui, he was actually wearing a highly expensive wig to hide his hair loss and possibly donned the piece for some of the initial episodes made thus far of Dexter. Though at the recent 2010 Comic Con, he’s pictured with co-star and wife Jennifer Carpenter looking fit and healthy, which we’re sure all Dexter fans are elated to see, as prime time serial killers just wouldn’t be the same without him.
Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter at Comic-Con - photo: John Shearer
The new season of Dexter premieres on Showtime Sep 26th
No comments yet.