Dexter prequel Original Sin has been canceled despite being previously renewed for a second season – in a bombshell backtrack that has left fans reeling.
The acclaimed show, which debuted its first and only season in December 2024, followed the evolution of Dexter (played by Michael C. Hall in the original series) from a student to avenging serial killer as he grew up in Miami in the early 1990s.
Irish actor Patrick Gibson played the young Dexter alongside a star-studded cast including Christian Slater (Harry Morgan), Sarah Michelle Gellar (CSI chief Tanya Martin), Christina Milian (Maria LaGuerta) and Patrick Dempsey (Aaron Spencer.)
Despite becoming Paramount+ with Showtime’s highest rated series premiere ever at the time – before it was beaten by Dexter: Resurrection – the renewal has now been rescinded just four months after a second season was confirmed, per Variety.
Sources told the publication that despite the renewal, the series ‘has in fact been on hiatus and no plans to shoot a second season had moved forward and no production dates were scheduled.’
It was also reported that Paramount is ‘imminently’ planning to open a writers room for a ‘potential’ second season of Dexter: Resurrection – which sees Hall reprise his role from the show’s eight seasons and reboot New Blood.
Dexter prequel Original Sin has been canceled despite being previously renewed for a second season – in a bombshell backtrack that has left fans reeling
The acclaimed show, which debuted its first and only season in December 2024, followed the evolution of Dexter (played by Patrick Gibson) from a ‘student to avenging serial killer’ as he grows up in Miami in the early 1990s – Gibson seen with Christian Slater as Harry Morgan
Original Dexter star Michael C. Hall has reprised his role in Dexter: Resurrection – which has won critical acclaim
The show’s premiere episode in July was watched by 4.4 million multiplatform viewers in its first week and has received critical acclaim – but a second season has yet to be officially confirmed.
Clyde Phillips, Dexter’s original showrunner and executive producer, helmed Original Sin with Hall voicing the inner Dexter and also serving as an executive producer.
An insider claimed to Variety that after the closing of the Skydance-Paramount merger, new head Matt Thunell and his team ‘decided to focus on Resurrection and Hall’s role as Morgan as they look to continue the Dexter franchise.’
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Paramount + and Michael C. Hall for comment and has yet to hear back.
Fans were left stunned by the un-renewal, with one quipping that ‘Resurrection might’ve just killed its own prequel, seems like they wanna go all in on it.’
Others wrote: ‘Wow, that really sucks man. I loved seeing Dexter back in Miami, exploring more of this backstory and Patrick Gibson did a great job. Really sucks for all the actors involved especially.
‘The fact it got renewed then cancelled anyway is pretty bleak for the future of TV in general.’
‘Seriously, why? I’m really disappointed. I loved OS and was genuinely looking forward to the next season.
Gibson joined a star-studded cast including Christian Slater (Harry Morgan) Sarah Michelle Gellar, (CSI chief Tanya Martin), Christina Milian (Maria LaGuerta) and Patrick Dempsey (Aaron Spencer.)
Hall voiced the inner Dexter on the show – pictured with Molly Brown, who played Debra Morgan, Slater and Gibson in December 2024 at the show’s premiere
Sources told the publication that despite the renewal, the series ‘has in fact been on hiatus and no plans to shoot a second season had moved forward and no production dates were scheduled’
Fans were left stunned by the un-renewal, quipping that ‘Resurrection might’ve just killed its own prequel’
Other fans revealed they agreed with the cancellation
Brown shared an emotional tribute to Deb as the show was axed
Her co-star Alex Shimizu, who played the young Vince Masuka, wrote: ‘Was so looking forward to working with you.’ He later wrote on his own page: ‘Worst day ever: F******k.’
Original Masuka star CS Lee revealed his sadness over the cancellation
‘Cancelling it after a renewal is downright criminal, crushing news.
‘This is so shortsighted, they cancelled it because they want to focus on Resurrection, but I feel like they could do both at the same time, audiences are much more patient nowadays with the waiting in-between seasons.’
Molly Brown, who played Debra Morgan in the show, took to Instagram to bid farewell to her character, writing: ‘over n out ✌️ i had the absolute time of my life getting to be Deb even just for a little bit.’
Her co-star Alex Shimizu, who played the young Vince Masuka, wrote: ‘Was so looking forward to working with you.’
He later wrote on his own page: ‘Worst day ever: F******k.’
Hall, 53, who has played the serial killing blood spatter analyst since 2006, made a sensational comeback in Resurrection after Dexter was shot and apparently killed by his son Harrison in 2021 series, New Blood.
Resurrection has seen huge stars join the cast including Uma Thurman, Eric Stonestreet, Neil Patrick Harris, Krysten Ritter, David Dastmalchian and Peter Dinklage
Debra Morgan actress Jennifer Carpenter did not return for Resurrection
James Remar returned as Dexter’s late father Harry Morgan, while Jack Alcott plays Harrison and David Zayas reprised his series and New Blood role as Angel Batista.
Peter Dinklage, Uma Thurman, Krysten Ritter, Eric Stonestreet and David Dastmalchian also joined the cast.
Jennifer Carpenter, who played Debra Morgan in the show and New Blood did not return.
