The main focus remains on the seasons that could involve spin-off characters.
Ever since the show's 17th anniversary, which was last October, Showtime's promoting the earlier seasons of Dexter, ahead of more official announcements about the three spin-offs which were announced via a press release on February 6th of 2023. The posts contain short clips from various episodes that focus on the dynamic between the Morgan siblings, as well as Doakes, the Ice Truck Killer, the Bay Harbor Butcher and others.
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The official Showtime accounts release one post every two or three days, with 25 short videos per Dexter season, on Instagram, Facebook, and their brand new TikTok account which has reached more than 100K followers in less than six months. The network seems to be ignoring the third season of the beloved series, which proves that their main focus is the characters of the franchise that will have impact in the forthcoming Dexter shows.
Next week will be exactly a year since Showtime/Paramount revealed their plans to expand the Dexter franchise, with a sequel to Dexter: New Blood starring Jack Alcott, a prequel series featuring young Dexter and Debra in their 20s (the working title is Dexter: Origins), and a prequel about the notorious Trinity Killer. But why there's no casting news ever since? The answer is because of the WGA strike which began shortly after, and was followed by the actors strike which lasted until last November.
Is the expansion of the Dexter franchise really happening? Well, we're not 100% sure, considering that Paramount is cutting jobs in an attempt to trim costs. Paramount CEO Bob Bakish recently announced more layoffs at the media company, citing a need to "operate as a leaner company and spend less."
Only time will tell if the Dexter spin-off shows are in danger. In the meantime the promotion of Dexter on the Showtime/Paramount social media accounts continues nonetheless.
ICYMI: Showtime's press release from last year:
SHOWTIME® ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR NEW PROJECTS BASED ON THE EMMY® NOMINATED HIT DRAMA DEXTER®
DEXTER: ORIGINS (w/t) Greenlit to Series
The Next DEXTER: NEW BLOOD Now in Development
SHOWTIME Also Developing Series Based Upon Other Key Characters From DEXTER
LOS ANGELES – February 6, 2023 – SHOWTIME announced today it has placed a straight-to-series order for the new drama DEXTER: ORIGINS (w/t), to be executive produced by Emmy nominee Clyde Phillips, based upon the Emmy-nominated hit series DEXTER that starred Emmy nominee Michael C. Hall. The network is also developing a new version of DEXTER: NEW BLOOD, which depicts the ongoing emergence of Dexter’s son Harrison. In addition, SHOWTIME is exploring projects based on other characters from the DEXTER universe, such as the makings of the notorious Trinity Killer originally played by Emmy winner John Lithgow. The announcement was made by Chris McCarthy, President/CEO, Showtime and Paramount Media Networks.
DEXTER: ORIGINS will dramatize young Dexter Morgan at the outset of his transition into the avenging serial killer he would become. Set in the Miami that was a hotbed of real serial killers of his time, the show will begin as Dexter graduates college to join Miami Metro, where he meets younger versions of many of the characters we came to know in the original DEXTER. And, of course, the show will also focus on Dexter’s family, including a very-much-alive Harry and a very formidable, teenage Deb.
DEXTER: NEW BLOOD is a new incarnation of the 2021-22 drama that became the most-watched series in SHOWTIME history. The drama focuses on Dexter’s son Harrison, who survived his tumultuous reintroduction with his father and flees to New York City where he must wrestle with his own violent nature and whether, like his father, he too is compelled to kill. DEXTER: NEW BLOOD will explore the kinds of themes and scenarios seen in the original series on SHOWTIME but through a new lens.
In addition, SHOWTIME is exploring other characters from the DEXTER universe whom the network could develop for potential series.
“The DEXTER saga has been an undeniable creative and popular success for SHOWTIME, both in its original, groundbreaking form and the record-setting DEXTER: NEW BLOOD,” said McCarthy. “The series is a rich foundation for other shows in the lane of complex, subversive antiheroes that SHOWTIME has always done so brilliantly. Clyde is deep into compelling stories and characters that will satisfy the cravings of our multifaceted audience.
Said Phillips: "I couldn’t be more excited about exploring and expanding the universe of DEXTER. It’s a privilege to contemplate going even deeper with these complex and iconic characters – and the stories, themes and possibilities they inspire. I’m thrilled that Chris and my friends at SHOWTIME want me to help them grow this truly unique and amazingly successful franchise.”
The eight-season run of the original DEXTER premiered in the fall of 2006 and starred Hall as Dexter Morgan, a complicated and conflicted blood-spatter expert for the Miami Metro police department who moonlights as a serial killer. The show became one of the most acclaimed series on television, earning multiple Emmy nominations for best television drama series as well as a prestigious Peabody Award in 2008, and was twice named one of AFI’s top 10 television series. All previous seasons of DEXTER and DEXTER: NEW BLOOD, are now available for subscribers on SHOWTIME.
SHOWTIME signed Phillips to an overall deal in 2021. Phillips has earned Emmy nominations for Outstanding Drama Series in three consecutive years, as well as a Peabody Award and four nominations from both the Producers Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America, for his work as executive producer and showrunner of DEXTER. In addition, Phillips created the series Suddenly Susan, Get Real and Parker Lewis Can’t Lose, and his producing and writing credits include the series NURSE JACKIE, Feed the Beast and Boomtown among many others. In addition, he is the author of four national bestselling mystery novels.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.