Paramount has quietly pulled the plug on Dexter: Original Sin despite a previous renewal announcement, signaling a major shift in strategy for the long-running franchise.
The prequel series, which premiered in December 2024 and wrapped its first season in February 2025, will not be returning for a second installment, Variety has confirmed through industry sources.
The news comes as a surprise to fans who were assured back in April that Season 2 had been given the green light. However, insiders reveal that no scripts were written, no production dates were set, and the series has effectively been on hiatus since its finale aired. Paramount executives have now opted to move away from the prequel storyline altogether.
At the same time, the studio is investing in Dexter: Resurrection, the latest continuation of the franchise with Michael C. Hall reprising his role as Dexter Morgan. The first season premiered July 11, 2025, and has received both strong critical acclaim and impressive viewership. According to Paramount, the premiere episode attracted 4.4 million multiplatform viewers within its first seven days, while the show currently holds a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. With its finale set for September 5, a renewal is not guaranteed but now looks increasingly likely as a writers room for Season 2 is scheduled to open in the coming weeks.
This pivot from Original Sin to Resurrection aligns with larger corporate changes following the Skydance-Paramount merger. Matt Thunell, who now oversees Showtime’s production operations under the Paramount umbrella, is said to be reassessing the entire content slate. The decision to double down on Hall’s return as the iconic anti-hero is viewed internally as a safer and more profitable strategy to sustain the Dexter brand.
Dexter: Original Sin was set in 1991 and explored the early years of Dexter Morgan, with Patrick Gibson portraying a younger version of the character. Michael C. Hall provided the internal monologue that has long been a staple of the series. The cast also featured Molly Brown, Christina Milian, Christian Slater, James Martinez, Alex Shimizu, Reno Wilson, Sarah Michelle Gellar in a special guest role, and Patrick Dempsey.
Behind the camera, Clyde Phillips, who previously ran the original Dexter series, returned as showrunner and creator of Original Sin. Hall also served as executive producer alongside Scott Reynolds, Mary Leah Sutton, Tony Hernandez, and Lilly Burns. Michael Lehmann directed and executive produced, with Robert Lloyd Lewis producing. The series was produced by Showtime Studios, now integrated into Paramount Television Studios, and Counterpart Studios.
The cancellation marks another casualty in Showtime’s steady decline over the past decade. Once a premium network powerhouse rivaling HBO, Showtime has since been rebranded as Paramount+ with Showtime, with only a small number of scripted originals still on its roster. Current titles include The Chi, The Agency, Yellowjackets, and now Dexter: Resurrection.
Although Dexter: Original Sin will end after just one season, the continued success of Resurrection proves there is still an appetite for Dexter Morgan’s story. With Hall back in the role and Paramount betting on nostalgia-driven projects, the franchise may be entering a new era, even if the origin story has been left behind.
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