Paramount Cancels Fan-Favorite ‘Dexter’ Spinoff After News of Renewal in a Shocking Twist

“Dexter: Original Sin” will not be returning for a second season. According to Variety, Paramount has decided not to move forward with another season of the prequel series.

A Season 2 renewal was initially announced in April, but sources say the show had actually been on hiatus, with no production dates scheduled and no plans to shoot a second season. The series first debuted in December 2024 and finished its only season in February 2025.

The cancellation comes shortly after the completion of the Skydance-Paramount merger. Matt Thunell, who now oversees Showtime’s production operations, along with the network’s new senior leadership team, is reportedly reviewing the entire slate.

A source with knowledge of the situation explained that Thunell and his team decided to focus on Dexter: Resurrection and Michael C. Hall’s role as Dexter Morgan as they continue the franchise.

“Original Sin” ends amid Showtime’s ongoing decline. Once a major hub for premium scripted content alongside networks like HBO, Showtime’s current lineup is much smaller. The network, now rebranding as Paramount+ with Showtime, currently features shows like The Chi, The Agency, and Yellowjackets, along with Dexter: Resurrection.

Set in 1991, Original Sin explored the early life of Dexter Morgan. Patrick Gibson played the young Dexter, while Michael C. Hall provided the inner monologue for the character.

When it premiered, Dexter: Original Sin became Showtime’s most-streamed debut, reaching over 2.1 million viewers globally across platforms. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave the series a 70% approval rating based on 20 critic reviews, with an average score of 6.6/10.

The site’s consensus reads: “Original Sin cares less about injecting fresh blood than reviving a tried-and-true formula, making for a prequel that’s just solid enough to scratch the Dexter itch with a scalpel.”

Clyde Phillips, the original showrunner and executive producer of Dexter, returned to serve in the same roles for Original Sin and also created the series.

Michael C. Hall, Scott Reynolds, Mary Leah Sutton, Tony Hernandez, and Lilly Burns were all executive producers. Michael Lehmann, director of Heathers, served as director and executive producer, while Robert Lloyd Lewis was a producer.

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