When Dexter: Original Sin premiered on Paramount+, fans of the Dexter franchise were eager to see how the prequel would introduce some of the most infamous characters in the Dexter universe. One of the biggest surprises? The return of Brian Moser, better known as the Ice Truck Killer, played by Roby Attal.
Roby joined Pop Culture Unplugged to discuss his experience bringing a young Brian Moser to life, how he prepared for the role, and what he hopes to explore in a potential Season 2.
Bringing Brian Moser to Life
Fans went into a frenzy when a teaser clip showed a mysterious man approaching young Dexter at a restaurant, asking, "Is anyone sitting here?" Without context, many speculated it could be Brian Moser—but nothing was confirmed until the show aired.
“I mean, did I expect the Internet to go crazy? Yes and no,” Roby admitted. “Brian Moser is an awesome character, so I figured there would be hype. But I was nervous about whether fans would accept my take on him.”
What made his reveal even more interesting was that Roby himself didn’t even know he was playing Brian Moser when he first got cast.
“Clyde [Phillips] is such a sneaky devil,” he laughed. “They didn’t tell me at first. My character was literally named ‘dark-haired man’ in the script. It wasn’t until I got on set that I realized I was playing Brian Moser. So, I was figuring it out at the same time the audience was.”
Studying the Ice Truck Killer
Once Roby learned he was stepping into the role of Brian, he dove into research.
“Brian is such a rich character with so much depth,” he said. “He and Dexter are like yin and yang—light and dark, two sides of the same coin. It was really exciting to explore that.”
As a longtime Dexter fan, Roby was already familiar with Christian Camargo’s portrayal of Brian in the original series but went back to study his performance in detail.
“I had already watched Dexter as a fan, but now I had to go back and really study it,” he said. “Christian’s performance was incredible. And, of course, Michael C. Hall’s Dexter is completely iconic.”
While he tried to honor what Camargo did, Roby knew he had to bring his own take to Brian—especially since Original Sin introduces him at a much younger and more volatile point in his life.
“The Brian we see in Dexter: Original Sin is different,” he explained. “He’s still chaotic, unhinged, and hasn’t yet developed the cool, methodical nature of the Ice Truck Killer we meet in the original series. He’s rough around the edges, still figuring himself out.”
Exploring Brian’s Trauma and Darkness
A key theme in Dexter: Original Sin is how Brian and Dexter process trauma differently. Both witnessed their mother’s brutal murder as children, but while Dexter was taken in by Harry Morgan and guided under his "Code," Brian was abandoned and left to navigate his darkness alone.
“Brian was completely discarded by the system,” Roby said. “He was left to fend for himself. That abandonment is central to who he becomes. Meanwhile, Dexter was given a structured way to channel his urges, which is why he appears more ‘controlled’ in comparison.”
This difference in upbringing drives Brian’s resentment and, ultimately, his violent tendencies.
“Brian has a lot of anger—not just toward Harry for abandoning him, but toward the world in general,” he said. “His actions are ruthless, but deep down, there’s a part of him that wishes things could have been different.”
One of the most shocking moments in Dexter: Original Sin comes in Episode 9, when Brian brutally murders a woman with a chainsaw—something that directly mirrors the way his mother was killed.
“That scene was intense,” Roby said. “It’s a moment where Brian is fully leaning into the darkness. He’s past the point of return.”
Brian and Dexter: A Twisted Bond
Despite his violent nature, Brian’s obsession with Dexter is undeniable.
“I think he genuinely wants a relationship with Dexter,” Roby said. “There’s this childlike hope inside him that they could be a family again. But his methods of getting there are completely twisted.”
The Dexter prequel finale highlights how much Brian has been following Dexter’s life from the shadows.
“In that restaurant scene, Dexter doesn’t even recognize Brian,” Roby noted. “For Dexter, it’s just a random encounter. But for Brian? That moment is devastating. He’s spent all this time thinking about Dexter, obsessing over him—and his own brother has completely forgotten he exists.”
That realization is likely the breaking point for Brian, setting him on the path toward becoming the fully realized Ice Truck Killer.
“Brian plays it cool, but underneath, that moment fuels everything,” Roby said. “It’s like, ‘Oh, you forgot about me? Let me remind you who I am.’”
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Brian?
The Dexter prequel leaves Brian’s story open-ended, setting the stage for more of his evolution. Fans are already clamoring for a Brian Moser spin-off—or at the very least, more of him in Dexter: Original Sin Season 2.
So what does Roby hope to see if the show returns?
“Just more Brian,” he said enthusiastically. “I think there’s so much to explore. We’ve only scratched the surface of who he is and how he transforms into the methodical killer we know from Dexter.”
One of the biggest things Roby hopes for is a deeper look into Brian’s refinement—how he goes from the chaotic, impulsive murderer we see now to the cold, calculated serial killer he becomes.
“I love that in the original series, Brian is so meticulous—OCD levels of perfection,” he said. “I’d love to explore that transition. What happens in the years between Original Sin and Dexter? How does he perfect his craft? How does he become so precise? There’s a lot of room to tell that story.”
With fans calling for more Brian, Roby is hopeful that Dexter: Original Sin will continue.
“I’ll campaign for it because I think Brian is such an interesting character,” he said. “The fans seem to want more, so let’s see where it goes.”
Message to Dexter Fans
Before wrapping up, Roby had a special message for Dexter fans.
“Just—thank you,” he said. “Thank you for being so sick and strange. I see you. You’re weird, and I like it.”
He also praised Dexter for expanding its universe in a way that isn’t just limited to superheroes or franchises.
“I love that we’re getting more into the world of Dexter,” he said. “It’s proof that we can have expanded universes that dive deep into fascinating, dark characters without them being part of some big superhero saga.”
And if Dexter: Original Sin does continue, Roby is more than ready to return.
“I hope we get more,” he said. “Because I think Brian’s story is far from over.”
Dexter: Original Sin is now streaming on Paramount+. Will we see more of Brian Moser in the future? Fans will just have to wait and see.