Julia Stiles Confirmed for Season 5 of ‘Dexter’

Dexter has a new lady in his life: after the season 4 finale saw everyone’s favorite blood spatter analyst slash serial killer Dexter (Michael C. Hall) gaze in shock upon the body of his dead wife Rita, a new actress has been confirmed for the upcoming season. As we also informed you a while back, Julia Stiles has been attached to the cast and will become a fixture, E! News has learned.

Michael Ausiello of The Ausiello Files, one of the most well connected and well informed sources in television, was the one to break the story that Stiles was being courted for a part on the killer series. At the time, though, it wasn’t known yet whether she would be getting a minor role or a bigger one – but E! now brings confirmation that Stiles will appear in 10 of the season’s 12 episodes.

“Has Dexter already replaced his dearly departed Rita?! If news of big-screen star Julia Stiles’ casting in Dexter’s fifth – and crazy-anticipated season is any indication, all signs point toward yes... OK, to say Julia is replacing Julie Benz’s much-loved matriarch is a bit of a stretch, but since the lovely Rita is now dead and gone, the Dark Passenger is ready to rear his ugly head once more – and that’s where the Bourne franchise actress comes in. According to Showtime, Julia will pop up in 10 of season five’s 12 episodes as a ‘mysterious young woman who forms a unique relationship with Dexter’,” E! writes.

Of course, that falls short of explaining the type of relationship the two will have. “Great, the last thing Dex (Michael C. Hall) needs is another strange chick around him (remember Lila, à la season two?!)... especially in this time of grief! Sorry, we’re still just a little emotional from Trinity’s reign of terror in the world of our sweet Dexter. What do you think about Dexter’s newest lady? Can she fill the void left by Miss Benz?” the same media outlet goes on to ask.

Of course, given this show’s history, chances are Stiles’ part will bear absolutely no resemblance either to Lila or to Rita because otherwise it would just become predictable – and fans know only too well predictable is the last term one would use to describe it. On the bright side, production for the upcoming season began last week, E! also says, so this can only mean one thing: spoilers are on their way. Make sure you keep an eye on this space for when they come.