DEXTER: ORIGINAL SIN Canceled Despite Season 2 Renewal, While DEXTER: RESURRECTION Moves Forward
The Dexter franchise is making another sharp turn. Despite receiving a Season 2 renewal earlier this year, Dexter: Original Sin will not be returning.
Sources confirmed to Variety that Paramount quietly shelved the prequel series, even though an official announcement suggested more episodes were on the way. In reality, the show had been on hiatus with no production dates ever set. The series launched in December 2024, wrapped its run in February, and now stands as a single-season story.
At the same time, the network is doubling down on Dexter: Resurrection, the sequel series bringing Michael C. Hall back as everyone’s favorite serial killer with a code. Paramount is preparing to open a writers’ room for a potential second season.
Of course, fans are now trying to save it because they don’t want to see this series get cancelled. Will Showtime listen? Probably not.
The first season premiered July 11, with the finale set for September 5. While a renewal isn’t locked in yet, the series has been pulling strong numbers, with 4.4 million multiplatform viewers in its opening week and a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The choice to abandon Original Sin comes not long after the Skydance–Paramount merger. Matt Thunell, who now oversees Showtime’s operations, and the new leadership team are reevaluating the entire content slate. One insider explained that the focus is shifting to Hall’s return in Resurrection as the anchor for the franchise moving forward.
The news also highlights Showtime’s continued decline. Once a prestige rival to HBO, Showtime’s scripted catalog has been cut back significantly. Under its Paramount+ with Showtime rebrand, the lineup is now narrowed to just a handful of titles, including The Chi, The Agency, Yellowjackets, and Dexter: Resurrection.
Original Sin was set in 1991, exploring Dexter Morgan’s formative years. Patrick Gibson played the young Dexter, with Hall reprising his role through the character’s inner monologue.
The cast featured Molly Brown, Christina Milian, Christian Slater, James Martinez, Alex Shimizu, Reno Wilson, guest star Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Patrick Dempsey. Clyde Phillips, the franchise’s longtime creative lead, returned as showrunner and series creator.
While fans won’t see more of young Dexter’s story, the franchise’s future now rests on Hall’s shoulders once again. If the writers’ room for Resurrection delivers and Paramount gives the greenlight, Dexter Morgan’s story is far from over.