Dexter: Clancy Brown joins the revival for a major role

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

It's almost like Showtime's upcoming Dexter revival is trying to guarantee success now that it's added Clancy Brown to its cast. Not only is Brown an outstanding actor, but he's also set to play Kurt Caldwell, the primary villain of the show. According to Variety, Caldwell is described as the unofficial mayor of the small town of Iron Lake. He’s realized the American dream by going from driving big rigs, just like his father did, to now owning several trucks and the local truck stop. Powerful, generous, loved by everyone – he’s a true man of the people. If he’s got your back, consider yourself blessed. But should you cross Kurt, or hurt anyone that he cares for, God help you.

Some of Brown's most iconic roles include playing the villain Kurgan in the film Highlander, as well as the abusive Captain Hadley in The Shawshank Redemption. Amazingly enough, Brown is also an accomplished voice actor with several notable credits to his name, including having voiced Mr. Krabs on Spongebob Squarepants for more than two decades. Needless to say, Brown exudes an intense screen presence that will lend well to his Kurt Caldwell character. If I'm being honest, I had no interest in this revival right up until Brown's casting was announced. Now I'm very eager to check it out. Hell, if Brown can do even half the job that John Lithgow did as Arthur Mitchell for Dexter's fourth season we'll be in business.

"Dexter is such a special series, both for its millions of fans and for Showtime, as this breakthrough show helped put our network on the map many years ago," said Gary Levine, Co-President of Entertainment at Showtime, in a previous statement. "We would only revisit this unique character if we could find a creative take that was truly worthy of the brilliant, original series. Well, I am happy to report that Clyde Phillips and Michael C. Hall have found it, and we can’t wait to shoot it and show it to the world."

How did the original series end, you ask? Please allow my good friend and co-worker Kevin Fraser to tell you all about it. Oh, and just so you know, we're about to talk about some major Dexter series finale spoilers, so proceed with caution. The original series finale of Dexter found the titular serial killer pulling the plug on his comatose sister Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) and dropping her body into the ocean before driving his boat into a tropical storm and faking his death. He had also sent his son Harrison and love interest Hannah (Yvonne Strahovski) to Argentina, promising that he would meet up with them later, but the final shots of the series found Dexter working for a lumber company in Oregon and looking miserable with his new beard.

Are you excited for Showtime's Dexter revival? Does Clancy Brown being added to the cast make you more or less optimistic about the show's 10-episode return? Let us know in the comments section below.