The executive renowned for his passion for expanding the Dexter franchise will soon step down from his role.
A major shake-up is underway at Paramount. As the long-anticipated merger between Paramount and Skydance is expected to be finalized within the next couple of weeks, Paramount Global co-CEO Chris McCarthy has officially announced he will depart the company once the deal is closed.
McCarthy’s exit marks the end of a significant chapter at Paramount. Appointed co-CEO in April 2024, he previously served as President and CEO of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks since 2018. During his tenure, McCarthy played a key role in expanding major television franchises — most notably Dexter and Yellowstone — into multi-series juggernauts.
His strategic vision centered around doubling down on successful intellectual property (IP) to fuel growth on the company’s flagship streaming service, Paramount+. The results speak for themselves: by the end of 2024, the platform had reached 77.5 million subscribers.
Franchise expansions like Dexter: New Blood, Dexter: Original Sin and Dexter: Resurrection are part of McCarthy’s legacy. While he wasn’t involved in writing scripts, he was instrumental in greenlighting projects with high franchise potential. In a past interview with The Hollywood Reporter, McCarthy highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong "hit ratio" by building content around proven IP — a strategy that, while effective, wasn’t without its critics.
Most recently, McCarthy appeared at the red carpet premiere of Dexter: Resurrection in New York City on July 9, joining fans and media for the exclusive screening of Episode 1. His presence there reaffirmed his connection to one of Paramount’s most iconic franchises, even in the final weeks of his tenure.
What Does Chris McCarthy’s Departure Mean for Dexter and Its Spinoffs?
Right now, it’s too early to know exactly how McCarthy’s departure — and the Paramount-Skydance merger — will affect the future of Dexter and its ever-growing universe. The deal has yet to be finalized, and no new leadership strategies have been announced.
However, given McCarthy’s proven success in transforming Dexter into a multi-series franchise with strong viewership and streaming value, it’s likely that the incoming leadership will continue down a similar path. Franchises that drive loyal fan engagement and subscription growth remain crucial in today’s competitive streaming landscape.
In short: nothing is set to change for Dexter — at least not yet. But fans should keep an eye on the coming weeks as the merger finalizes. More information about Paramount’s long-term content strategy — including plans for Dexter: Resurrection, Original Sin, and other spinoffs — will likely surface soon.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter