Everything to Know About Dexter: Original Sin Prequel Series

Everybody’s favorite killer is back on the prowl.

Showtime and Paramount+ initially announced in February 2023 that Dexter, the hit thriller that ran from 2006 to 2013, would be receiving a prequel series. Set 15 years before the show began, fans will be introduced to young Dexter and learn the origin story behind his murderous ways, all while exploring the future forensic scientist’s family dynamics. Cast members were later revealed in May 2024.

Dexter, who was originally played by Michael C. Hall, made a name for himself in pop culture history as the guy who helped Miami police solve murders by day and murdered criminals by night. The original series earned multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations and prompted the spinoff New Blood, which starred Hall and ran from 2021 to 2022.

Following the end of New Blood, Hall hinted at his future within the franchise. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to play a young Dexter at this point,” he teased in a 2023 interview. “I think that ship sailed even before we started shooting the [original] series, but I’m open to the possibility.”

While talks of another installment were “all a bit theoretical at the moment,” Hall noted that he was “curious to see what they come up with” for the character. “I’ve learned to never say never,” he added.

Scroll on to learn more about Dexter: Original Sin:

When Does ‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Premiere?

Dexter: Original Sin starts streaming on Paramount+ Friday, December 13, before making its cable debut on Sunday, December 15. The thriller is expected to run for 10 episodes.

Who Is Starring in ‘Dexter: Original Sin’?

Shadow and Bone alum Patrick Gibson will star as young Dexter, alongside Christian Slater as Harry, his adoptive dad and homicide detective. Molly Brown is set to play Debra Morgan, Dexter’s sister.

Four more actors were added to the cast in June 2024, including Christina Milian as the Miami Metro Police Department’s first female homicide detective, Maria LaGuerta, and James Martinez as up-and-coming homicide detective Angel Batista. Alex Shimizu will play the younger version of Vince Masuka, and Reno Wilson has signed on as the new character Bobby Watt, who is Harry’s longtime partner and confidant.

Who Created ‘Dexter: Original Sin’?

Dexter showrunner and executive producer Clyde Phillips is returning for the prequel. Phillips, who exited the original series after the fourth season, revealed he was unhappy with how the the show ended.

“[It] went off the rails,” he told Entertainment Weekly in 2021. “The show was untethered, and the character was untethered. I wasn’t in the room, so I can’t really criticize anybody for that.”

He added, “I mean, there were videos of people watching the final episode and yelling at their television.”

What Is ‘Dexter: Original Sin’ About?

According to the official plot summary, the prequel follows Dexter “as he transitions from student to avenging serial killer.” The teen has to learn how to “channel his inner darkness” with the guidance of his father, all while creating a code designed to help him track down people who deserve to be eliminated from society.

As Dexter attempts to evade the police, he is faced with a particularly challenging dilemma: He just started a forensics internship at Miami Metro Police Department.

Has Production Begun for ‘Dexter: Original Sin’?

Production kicked off on June 5, 2024, in Miami, per multiple outlets.

How Is Michael C. Hall Involved With ‘Dexter: Original Sin’? 

After previously playing the prolific fictional serial killer, Hall knew he wanted to be part of the new project.

“He’s an executive producer on the show. He’s my business partner, he’s my dear friend and he does the voiceover on the show,” creator Clyde Phillips exclusively told Us Weekly. “It was crucial to getting the original audience to feel comfortable and to get the new audience — which they call Dexternexters to lean forward.”

Phillips credited Hall for making Dexter feel “vulnerable and relatable,” adding, “He captures the inevitability of my favorite four-letter F-word: fate. It’s inexorable — it’s going to happen. It’s like the progression from caveman to homosapiens.”

Is There a Trailer for ‘Dexter: Original Sin’?

On November 26, Paramount+ released the official trailer for Dexter: Original Sin. In the clip, Dexter learns the “code” designed to help him find and kill “the bad guys who escaped justice.” He also must navigate his urges while beginning a forensics internship at the Miami Metro Police Department, where Harry is an officer.

Where Can You Watch ‘Dexter: Original Sin’?

The prequel will be available on Showtime and Paramount+.