"Batista doesn’t have a cynical bone in his body," Zayas told Martinez after he got the part.
This is the last Friday without a new Dexter episode! That's right—Dexter: Original Sin premieres next Friday, December 13, and Showtime has released a new behind-the-scenes featurette. This time, we hear from James Martinez, who plays a younger version of the one and only Angel Batista, aka "La Pasión."
The featurette includes some fresh footage (though for more, check out the Inside Dexter: Original Sin video we posted earlier) and features Martinez discussing his friendship with David Zayas and his take on Batista’s character in the prequel.
James Martinez on Dexter's Struggles:
“Batista knows that Dexter’s trying to figure it all out. He tries to take him under his wing, but Dexter obviously doesn’t get it—he’s far from it. He kinda falls flat at the workplace. No one can figure this guy out.”
On Young Angel Batista:
“Angel Batista is a detective at Miami Metro Homicide. He’s in love with love—very romantic, a ladies' man, but to a fault,” Martinez shared.
He continues, “He can be impulsive, ambitious, and eager to learn. A workaholic who loves what he does, he’s working hard to climb the ranks to hopefully make Sergeant. David and I go way back to the New York theater scene. When I found out I got the role, I reached out to him immediately, saw him, and shared the news.”
Batista's Optimism:
“He gave me a long, Batista-like hug and said, ‘Batista does not have a cynical bone in his body.’ That really resonated with me. In the midst of so much death, darkness, and despair, he still believes the future is bright and that things will get better—which is incredibly refreshing when you watch the show.”
Watch the video below.