Updated

Julie Benz will return for the Season 5 premiere of Dexter, TVGuide.com has confirmed.

Is Dexter over Rita's death? Not even close

Benz played Rita Bennett, the wife of serial killer Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), until the Season 4 finale, when she was murdered by the Trinity Killer (John Lithgow).

So how and/or why will she be back? "Bringing her back in a flashback or visionary way sort of steps on our use of Harry [James Remar]," says executive producer Sara Colleton, in a reference to Dexter's dead father, who appears to his son periodically. "We want to be very, very specific about that and not get gimmicky, because it would become too much of a device."

Showtime's statement on Benz's return hardly clarifies matters. "As Dexter grapples with the reality of the death of his wife and the realization that he is now a single father, the presence of Rita Bennett will help him deal with his newfound feelings of loss and grief — emotions that Dexter Morgan has never really felt before," it reads.

Will Dexter's Season 5 jump ahead in time?

How do you think Rita will return? Hit the comments with your best theory.

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