“Dexter,” which stars Michael C. Hall, is one of the most beloved series when it comes to cable crime dramas. As a result, there have been multiple spin-offs, including “New Blood,” “Original Sin,” and more recently, “Dexter: Resurrection.”
Variety received word from sources that Paramount had decided against moving forward with a season two of “Dexter: Original Sin.” The show premiered in December 2024 and wrapped in February 2025. Notably, this comes after executives ordered a second season in April 2025.
Despite the bad news, the outlet is reporting that Paramount has plans to move forward with a season two of “Dexter: Resurrection,” which premiered in July on Showtime and Paramount+. It’s also worth noting that this series saw the return of Hall, whom “Original Sin” didn’t feature except for narration.
However, it comes on the heels of the Paramount and Skydance merger, and the company is likely examining its programming and deciding which shows to keep and which series to cancel.
‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Premiered to Strong Viewership
Strong viewership is essential for networks and streaming platforms. This is evident by the fact that some of the highest-quality series sometimes get canceled. Regarding “Dexter: Original Sin,” the series succeeded by this metric.
According to The Wrap, the series debuted with more than 2.1 million cross-platform viewers. This was enough to make it Showtime’s most-streamed premiere. It was also the network’s most talked-about premiere in terms of social media engagement.
The ratings success continued for the “Dexter” prequel series. Deadline reported in February that the show’s finale brought in 2.68 million viewers, representing a hefty 27% increase from its premiere. The series also has pretty strong reviews as it currently holds a “fresh” 70 percent from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Dexter: Original Sin” stars Patrick Gibson as Dexter Morgan, Molly Brown as his sister, Debra, and Christian Slater as their dad, Harry.
‘Dexter: Resurrection’ Is a More Popular and Critically Acclaimed Show
The reasoning behind canceling the “Dexter” prequel series is unclear. However, the newest spin-off, or continuation, as many may call it, is clearly the most popular of the three shows to follow the original. According to Deadline, “Dexter: Resurrection” drew in 4.4 million cross-platform viewers. This is 25 percent higher than the premiere of “Dexter: Original Sin.”
The show is also more critically acclaimed, as it holds an impressive 94 percent on the Rotten Tomatoes platform. Notably, many fans claim the newest series is as good as the original “Dexter,” which aired from 2006 until 2013.
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Hit ‘Dexter’ Spin-Off Canceled Despite Previous Renewal Announcement