Will the Trinity prequel happen? Showrunner Clyde Phillips shares an update.
It’s now been officially over two years since the idea of a Trinity Killer prequel was first brought to the table—and while significant creative progress has been made, there's still been no official greenlight or formal update from Paramount+ or Showtime.
What we do know is that this highly anticipated prequel has a full ten-episode season already written. The project is helmed by none other than Dexter veterans Clyde Phillips and Scott Reynolds, ensuring continuity and authenticity within the franchise. Additionally, one exciting detail that’s been confirmed is the desire to have John Lithgow narrate the series—similar to how Michael C. Hall is set to narrate Dexter: Original Sin. Lithgow, of course, originally brought the chilling Arthur Mitchell to life in Dexter Season 4.
However, despite all these promising developments, the last update on the prequel dates back over six months—until now.
During last Saturday’s main Dexter: Resurrection panel at CCXP in Mexico City, which has yet to be released in full online, showrunner Clyde Phillips offered a small but meaningful update on the Trinity Killer prequel. While the panel’s focus was primarily on Dexter: Resurrection (premiering July 11), Phillips acknowledged that the prequel centered on the early years of Arthur Mitchell is still not officially in production. That said, he expressed hope that a greenlight from Paramount could be coming soon.
It's important to note that the absence of an official greenlight doesn't necessarily mean the project is creatively on hold. Development may still be underway, particularly in areas such as actor research and early casting discussions—especially when it comes to finding the right actor to portray a younger version of Arthur Mitchell. The final casting decision will likely depend on the time period the series explores and the age the character is intended to be during that era.
Recently on Dexter Daily, we shared a list of five actors we believe could convincingly step into the iconic role. Check out our picks here.
Adding even more heart to the conversation, John Lithgow himself recently shared a thoughtful piece of advice for any young actor who may eventually inherit the role that earned him an Emmy.
While reactions to the concept of a Trinity Killer prequel have been mixed among fans, the outlook remains hopeful. Before the announcement of Dexter: Original Sin, it was widely believed that the fate of the Trinity spinoff would hinge on the success of the young Dexter series. Now that Original Sin has officially been greenlit as of early April, fans are waiting to see if Arthur Mitchell’s chilling origin story will be next.
With momentum building and strong creative minds behind it, the potential for this prequel remains very much alive.
Stay tuned to Dexter Daily for all the latest updates on Dexter: Resurrection, Dexter: Original Sin Seaosn 2 and the possible Trinity Killer prequel.