US series Dexter has returned for a brand new series – and the recasting of a key character has “stunned” fans.
The show, which originally ran from 2006 to 2013, is back for its second reboot following 2021’s Dexter: New Blood.
Dexter: Original Sin, a prequel series exploring the character’s early years as he navigates his urges to kill, is hoping to bring the show back into favour following the first show’s heavily-derided finale.
Patrick Gibson plays the young version of Dexter, with Michael C Hall returning to provide the show’s narration, while many new stars portray younger versions of characters first seen in the original series, including Christian Slater as Dexter’s father Harry and Christina Milian as María LaGuerta.
But it’s the casting of Miami Metro detective Angel Batista that has stunned fans, with many calling James Martinez a “perfect” choice and a dead ringer for David Zayas, the actor who first played him.
“Uncanny how much I just accept James Martinez as Angel Batista on Dexter: Original Sin. The cast across the board are honestly good at feeling like the original show but he seems like he just happens to be a young David Zayas
“Whoever cast James Martinez as young Angel Batista in Dexter: Original Sin really hit the nail on the head. Wow,” one fan wrote, with another stating: “I’ve become more impressed and engrossed with each episode of #DexterOriginalSin . Most impressive for me is James Martinez as Batista. Dude has straight up become David Zayas.”
One viewer declared: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a young character cast better than James Martinez as Angel Batista in #DexterOriginalSin. Like not just the looks & styling… The mannerisms . The influxes when speaking. All of it. Spot on.”
The 10-part series, which airs on Paramount+, also stars Patrick Dempsey and Sarah Michelle Gellar, with Molly Brown playing a younger version of Dexter’s sister Deb, who was originally portrayed by Jennifer Carpenter.
Previous spin-off Dexter: New Blood was a continuation of the original series, which saw Dexter reunite with his now teenage son Harrison (Jack Alcott).
New Blood saw Michael C Hall return as the serial killer, with episodes reuniting him with Harrison (Jack Alcott), the now-teenage son he abandoned at the end of the original series.
