The prequel may have been canceled, but the actor behind Doakes isn’t sold on the idea of a younger version of his iconic character.
In December 2024, just six months after its official announcement, the Dexter prequel series Original Sin made its debut on Paramount+ with Showtime. It marked the franchise’s return after a three-year break, following the conclusion of Dexter: New Blood.
Running from December 13, 2024, to February 14, 2025, Dexter: Original Sin reintroduced fans to younger versions of nearly every familiar face from Miami Metro. At the center of it all was a young Dexter Morgan, portrayed during his transformation from an ordinary student into the darkly complex serial killer fans know so well.
Despite its renewal earlier in the year, the series was abruptly canceled on August 22, 2025, sparking outrage across the fandom. Over 103,000 fans have since signed the main petition demanding its return. Adding to the disappointment, showrunner Clyde Phillips recently revealed that future seasons had planned to introduce a younger version of James Doakes — one of the most iconic characters in Dexter history.
Fans were especially heartbroken at this revelation, knowing they missed out on seeing the early dynamics between Dexter and Doakes, as well as the inevitable wave of fresh memes that would have followed.
While fans eagerly embraced the idea, Erik King — the actor who originally brought Doakes to life — admitted he has mixed emotions about the possibility of another actor stepping into the role.
(Editor’s note: The interview has been edited for clarity and readability.)
During his appearance on The Brett Allan Show, King was asked about the fan demand for Original Sin to return and specifically about the potential for a younger Doakes. His response was candid:
“I think I have mixed feelings about it. I think it would be great for the show, but I’d be curious to see what that means. Because I have my take, and I don’t know how it would feel watching somebody else’s take on Doakes. I’m not averse to it, it’s just… an interesting thought.”
Despite his hesitation, King also expressed admiration for the cast of Original Sin and trust in showrunner Clyde Phillips:
“The actors from Original Sin did an incredible job. Christina Milian is a sweetheart — I’ve worked with her, she’s wonderful. All of those actors did an incredible job. And I trust Clyde. I know that if he felt the need to do that, he’d make it make sense. It would just be strange for me looking at it from the outside.”
King went on to reflect on Doakes’ untold backstory, revealing that he created his own personal history for the character while filming the original series. He admitted it would have been fascinating to finally see parts of Doakes’ life — like his family history — explored in the prequel:
“To think about what got Doakes to that point… I had my backstory and then I had the backstory that worked for the original series. But it might be interesting to see what the writers and producers would come up with. What was his family like? What shaped him before Miami Metro?”
This marks one of the first times an original Dexter actor has openly expressed ambivalence about younger versions of their characters being recast for Original Sin. Still, King’s respect for the team behind the show and his curiosity about Doakes’ unexplored history show just how much the character continues to resonate with fans and cast alike.
What do you think about Erik King’s comments? Would you want to see a younger James Doakes in Dexter: Original Sin if the series ever returns? Let us know in the comments!