John Cusack is supposedly in the running for a major role in Dexter season 9. Starting in 2006, Dexter quickly became one of Showtime’s most renowned shows, with the series winning two Golden Globes and receiving mostly positive reviews until its final season. Dexter season 8 is often considered one of the most hated TV show finales due to it not giving Dexter, or any of the supporting characters, a satisfying ending. After Dexter drops Deb into the ocean and drives his boat into the hurricane, the series wraps up by showing him alive, working as a lumberjack in Oregon.
The finale angered a lot of long-time fans of the series, but in October, Showtime revealed that Michael C. Hall was returning as Dexter for a new limited series. With production on Dexter season 9 not even started yet, there is very little information about the serial killer’s return. A previous report teased that Dexter was, “now living under an assumed name in a world away from Miami,” which could be continuing his storyline in Oregon or completely start somewhere fresh. At this time, Hall is the only actor confirmed to be returning, but Showtime looks to be casting a major role.
According to The Illuminerdi, Showtime is looking to cast Cusack in Dexter season 9. Cusack is apparently in the running for a character named Kurt. Kurt is a trucker who hangs up his hat in a Northeast American town where he becomes a leader and cleans up his son Matt’s “messes” using his wealth. The Illuminerdi also reported that Tim Robbins was considered for the role but turned it down.
Whether Cusack is officially confirmed or not, there are some things that Showtime must do with Dexter season 9 to redeem themselves with fans. Season 9 is seen as a second chance for Showtime to properly finish Dexter‘s storyline, but showrunner Clyde Phillips has made it clear that they won’t be undoing anything from the first eight seasons. While this means Deb won’t come back to life and get a more satisfying ending, it does mean that Dexter could reunite with his son Harrison and former-flame Hannah to effectively wrap up their storylines. Many think the best way to wrap up the series would be to either kill off Dexter or have him get captured, but if Showtime goes that route, it’s important that they stick the landing this time around.
Casting Cusack in a leading role could help Showtime with this goal. At this point in his career, Cusack is a well-known actor who has starred in dozens of projects over the years. Cusack has certainly proved himself as a diverse actor, but realistically, having a good cast doesn’t guarantee a worthwhile series finale. It is ultimately up to the writers at Showtime to ensure that Dexter ends on a high note, but having Cusack involved certainly could help the season excel if the story is well developed.
