Home Entertainment Dexter being revived as limited series with original showrunner

Dexter being revived as limited series with original showrunner

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Dexter is coming back! Yes, Michael C. Hall is set to reprise his iconic role as part of a 10-episode limited series revival on Showtime! And I’ve added both those previous exclamation points just to cover my bases as I’m sure there’s some of you out there who are actually excited about that news… Hello?… Anybody?…

When it originally launched on Showtime in 2006, Dexter was a massive success as it introduced the world to Hall’s Dexter Morgan, a forensic blood spatter expert working for the Miami Metro Police Department who was secretly a lifelong serial killer who had channelled his bloodlust into hunting down murderers who had managed to evade conviction. Series creator James Manos Jr. and showrunner Clyde Phillips, along with exec producers Daniel Cerone and Melissa Rosenberg had adapted Jeff Lindsay’s series of novels, but cleverly deviated from those books’ more outlandish and supernatural elements. The result was an award-winning drama that was still dark and twisted and boasted compelling characters but never delved into absurdity. Well, at least in the beginning.

With most of the original creative team exiting the production over time due to various personal reasons, the show took a huge downturn in quality after Phillips left as showrunner after four seasons. The show’s final four seasons, three of which was overseen by Scott Buck (yes, the same Scott Buck that also gave us season 1 of Iron Fist and The Inhumans), was a rollicking rollercoaster of quality resulting in an eighth season/series finale routinely considered one of the worst in TV history. I won’t spoil how the series ends but it definitely went in a direction few fans desired and left a bunch of unresolved plot threads, including Dexter’s final fate.

But now those threads can be tied off properly as Deadline reports that Phillips will be back on board as showrunner for this limited series. The idea of reviving Dexter is not a new one as it was already being considered at Showtime back in 2015, but according to Gary Levine, Co-President of Entertainment at the network, they would only commit if they had a pitch that was “truly worthy” of the popular character.

Dexter is such a special series, both for its millions of fans and for Showtime, as this breakthrough show helped put our network on the map many years ago. We would only revisit this unique character if we could find a creative take that was truly worthy of the brilliant, original series. Well, I am happy to report that Clyde Phillips and Michael C. Hall have found it, and we can’t wait to shoot it and show it to the world.

Based on the events of the final season, it will be impossible for some of the original series’ more popular regulars to return (unless they incorporate flashbacks). The likes of Yvonne Strahovski and Jadon Wells, who played Dexter’s love interest and son, respectively, certainly seem like likely picks for the revival though. With reports indicating that Showtime want to go into production on the limited series in early 2021 for a tentative Q3 release next year, it probably won’t be long before we hear some confirmation on the cast and story direction.

Last Updated: October 15, 2020

31 Comments

  1. Still need to finish watching it. Always get stuck somewhere after the Trinity Killer and he gets that “partner” for a while. But have seen many clips from later seasons…

    Reply

    • Du4098

      October 15, 2020 at 14:15

      For your own good don’t finish it. Let the memory sit there as it is. The ending rivals the GOT Season 8 finale.

      Reply

      • For the Emperor!

        October 15, 2020 at 14:45

        Well, in this case I have heard it is not good, so my expectations are appropriately lowered. Besides, I got the box set so I have to watch it to justify getting it haha

        Reply

        • Du4098

          October 15, 2020 at 14:45

          Then I have no workable solution but at least you know to mentally prepare yourself.

          Reply

          • For the Emperor!

            October 15, 2020 at 14:45

            The plan is: play it on the TV while building/painting Warhammer 40K models 🙂

          • Du4098

            October 15, 2020 at 14:50

            By your PP I assume you are working on a Space Marine army? I have a partially assembled/painted Eldar army that I just don’t have time for anymore.

          • For the Emperor!

            October 15, 2020 at 15:05

            Focussing on finally getting my GK “tournament ready”. But I do need to complete my Grey Knights, Khorne Daemons, Imperial Knights and T’au. Right now stripping the bad paint-job I did on the GK, then going to restart the painting from scratch.

          • Du4098

            October 15, 2020 at 15:35

            Daammn son…. better get to strippin. I’ll see myself out.

          • Banana Jim

            October 15, 2020 at 15:48

            Do you have a youtube channel? You need to show your goods sir!

        • Banana Jim

          October 15, 2020 at 15:35

          Yeah, if I were you, and this is one of the few times, that I’ll offer a pearl of banana wisdom, don’t watch the final season. Rather skip it, go from the previous season straight into the planned limited…. maybe they’ll recap some of it).

          Reply

      • Banana Jim

        October 15, 2020 at 15:35

        I’d love to say GOT Season 8 was worse, but the final season of Dexter is what they use to torture inmates in underground government facilities in Saudi. It’s really the most disappointing pile of crap, I ever had the displeasure of watching.

        Reply

        • Du4098

          October 15, 2020 at 15:40

          It really was THAT bad.

          Reply

          • Banana Jim

            October 15, 2020 at 15:48

            lol, my sister started watching Dexter a few months ago, and I warned her about the final season. She insisted that it was a great series and that she thought I was being hyperbolic.

            Hahahaha! Until she watched the final season.

          • Du4098

            October 15, 2020 at 15:54

            Hahaha it is hard to believe that it can go so bad, so quickly. The first seven seasons were all great. GOT arguably only had like 5 good seasons so the poor ending wasn’t as huge a surprise.

          • Banana Jim

            October 15, 2020 at 16:35

            Yeah, there were warning signs after season 5 or 6, but I still can’t believe how bad the 8th was. I remember watching the first episode of Season 8 and going “ok.. this… wasn’t good… they only have a few episodes left… ” and then hoping that it would improve, but when that badly lid third episode popped, I knew it was over.

            I was actually in a whatsapp group where one of the guys insisted that it wasn’t that bad, and that it was the best season he’d seen (I think months later he finally admitted that it was actually shit from start to finish).

            Sometimes denial can be terrible thing.

          • Du4098

            October 15, 2020 at 17:22

            I didn’t want to believe it but it was tough to deny. I suggest you search Game of Thrones Season 8 Pitch Meeting on YT. Pretty much sums it up perfectly.

        • Kenshigo

          October 15, 2020 at 18:43

          Please, you as well. Tell me what would have been a good ending. I´m curious!

          Reply

          • Banana Jim

            October 15, 2020 at 19:41

            For which show Dexter or GOT?

            My biggest issue with the ending of Dexter is that you go through this journey with a character that’s always on the brink of becoming something much worse. He’s an anti-hero and incredibly flawed, and then the ending removes everything that at least tied him to some sense of humanity. It’s actually a cruel end, and if you were a fan, it would have left your thinking “then why the fuck did I watch this shit”. Basically, and if the trajectory of his character is to be believed, he would eventually become what he always fought against… Would he remain in the cabin for the rest of his life? Of course not, he’s a sociopathic serial killer. He would have gone out and killed.

            As for GOT, the season was terrible because not only was it crammed into only 6 episodes, but because they had to complete most of the story arcs, they took severe liberties with some of the characters. I mean just take Jaime as an example, and how he dealt with Brianne. Or the fact that ever since season 6, Tyrion has been slowly becoming dumber and dumber, and that brilliance that was showcased in the first season and the books are missing by the time we get to season 8. He’s basically a bit of joke in the last season. Then there’s the unsatisfying way the white walkers were dealt with. After 7 seasons, they were built up as a serious threat, and it only took three episodes (actually one) to completely undercut that development. That third episode basically took fans out to the lake and drowned them in the shallows, and as they drowned their executioners mocked them laughed at their naivety.

            There are plenty of examples that I can choose, as for how could they have made a good ending? It would have meant at least another one or two seasons, and even if they followed the general story arc (from how the Night King is killed by Arya – fuck – or the unsatisfying way Cersei dies, or how Daenarys increasingly becomes like her father). it could actually still have worked, but they needed to flesh it all out. It just didn’t work over the course of 6 episodes. The fact that they went ahead with it is laughable.

          • Kenshigo

            October 17, 2020 at 12:56

            “the ending removes everything that at least tied him to some sense of humanity”
            Wasn´t the ending the most humane thing he did in the whole series? He made sure his child could have a life and he actually trusted someone else. He tried to make sure that this love story won´t turn out like his last so he made everyone believe he is dead, distanncing himself from them, so they can be safe.

            And the cabin was clearly just to point out that a return is possible, we don´t/can´t know what he did there.

          • Ant Visagie

            October 15, 2020 at 21:47

            What’s up with the link to porn on your disqus profile, Kenshigo?

          • Kenshigo

            October 17, 2020 at 12:36

            I have no idea what that was?!?!
            Thanks for pointing it out, changed my pw

      • Kenshigo

        October 15, 2020 at 18:43

        What a stupid overexaggeration! What would you have called a good ending? A sunshine happy ending? Please tell me!
        GoT is THE worst ending of all time because the whole season was rushed and only there for the sake of finishing it, this is not the case here, but please, tell me, what would have been a good ending in your opinion!

        Reply

        • Du4098

          October 15, 2020 at 20:55

          I never said anything about a happy ending. If anything I felt the ending was a bit of a cop out.

          Personally I think if Dexter actually had to answer for the crimes he committed, it would have made for a more compelling ending. Yes, he did what he did as an anti-hero but the majority of the time he was just as bad as the people he killed.

          Also, it’s okay for people to have different opinions about things. If you want to discuss what you liked/dislike them I’m happy to do that with you but the way you commented is unnecessary. You can take that attitude back to the IGN comment section.

          Reply

          • Kenshigo

            October 17, 2020 at 12:56

            “what they use to torture inmates in underground government facilities in Saudi”
            “It really was THAT bad.”
            “he ending rivals the GOT Season 8 finale.”

            And you expect people to discuss like a harvard debate?
            You get what you give! If you act like a cod xbox kid, you get the ign treatment!
            So please, don´t start the “behave” discussion!

            Dexter may not have ended the way you liked it, but at least they had a plan and followed it. The last season of GoT was the biggest mess that ever happened in TV history! That alone makes it a stupid overexaggeration.

            Getting him arrested wouldn´t leave the option for a new season, except getting him out to help for a crime, which would turn the series in a CSI and nobody would have wanted that.

          • Du4098

            October 17, 2020 at 13:16

            Maybe if you quote someone make sure you are using their replies.

            The point I made about your reply is don’t attack people’s opinions if you don’t like what they have to say. I haven’t seen you actually saying what you like about the Dexter ending? I assume you liked it because you defend it like you wrote it.

            Point out how the ending was fitting and maybe you can change my mind or make me see a different side I haven’t thought of.

          • Kenshigo

            October 17, 2020 at 19:06

            I can´t reply you on all comments together and i´m sure you know that. Yet again, you behave like a IGN kid here and tell people to behave, hypocrite!

            And i´m not attacking your opinion, i´m saying your overexaggeration is stupid.

            Why do you feel attacked? Sounds like you have issues (Just assuming, like you do).

            And no, i didn´t like the ending, but it was an okay way to end it in a way that leaves a return open. But people act like it is something worth a war crime (like you and your friend) and that´s a stupid overexaggeration, that´s all i´m saying!

          • Kenshigo

            October 20, 2020 at 00:01

            downvoting but not replying because you know i´m right xD
            my condolences!

  2. RideBoks

    October 15, 2020 at 15:54

    The first 2 seasons were a 10/10 for me then very slowly got worse till it was…..

    Reply

    • Banana Jim

      October 15, 2020 at 16:35

      Yeah, I mean if I have to be honest, there was a serious diminishing returns thing happening with each season. It was a steady decline.

      Reply

  3. Banana Jim

    October 15, 2020 at 15:35

    Hopefully, it’ll be an improvement over the last season… hell’s bells. There are so many great shows, who completely lost the plot when they had to wrap it all up, and Dexter is a prime example of that. Where the final season should have been a celebration, and leave you nostalgic and keen to rewatch it. Much like Game of Thrones, I just wanted to throw my blurays away.

    Am I excited for the limited series? I don’t know, this could either recapture the magic or it could be like that 24 limited series that just was… it happened, we watched it, we carried on with our lives.

    Reply

  4. David Scott Duncan

    October 15, 2020 at 18:06

    Very excited for this. S8 was brutally disappointing for me. While I didn’t enjoy the season I actually did like the ending… probably one of maybe 5 people worldwide who did. Love Dexter, can’t wait

    Reply

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