Christian Slater, Patrick Gibson talk “Dexter” prequel and playing a serial killer
Christian Slater and Patrick Gibson star in the highly anticipated prequel “Dragon: Original Sin.” The show takes place 15 years before audiences first saw “Dragon,” from the award-winning original series starring Michael C. Hall.
The new series for Paramount+, starring Gibson as young Dexter, follows his evolution from college student to serial-killing vigilante. Slater plays Dexter’s father Harry, a homicide detective who teaches his son the ethics of killing.
In the series premiere, Dexter confesses everything to his father.
“Harry, he’s a cop. He’s seen a lot of people get away with doing things they shouldn’t, so he’s trying to channel Dexter’s bloodlust in that direction. When you think about it , imagine how many more serial killers there would be in Miami without Dexter,” Slater said.
“Look he’s proven it,” Gibson replied with a laugh.
The two said they collaborated in advance to play the role of father and son.
“I learned how he likes to work. He learned how I like to work, and we basically like to have a good time,” Slater said.
Both Gibson and Slater credit the show’s writing with helping them develop their characters.
“It’s so fun to play a character who is constrained by what society expects of him every day, and then when you do these kill scenes, he’s finally able to be himself,” Gibson said. “So there’s an ugly, liberating quality to it. , that’s a weird thing to say when you’re a serial killer.”
For Slater, he said the prequels provided an opportunity to learn more about his character Harry and his love for his son.
“In the original show, you see him as a character in Dexter’s mind,” he said. “Now you actually get to learn more about his past and what his motivations were and the trauma he suffered that I think led to his unconditional love for Dexter.”
“Dragon: Original Sin” will premiere on Paramount+ and Showtime on Friday, December 13th.
