What to know about Dexter: Original Sin, the prequel series coming to Paramount+ with Showtime

If you were a fan of the Dexter series starring Michael C. Hall, then you'll be excited to know that a prequel is officially in the works! Get ready for Dexter: Original Sin as the franchise takes us back to the younger years of the vigilante serial killer we grow to know.

Right now production hasn't started, and it's not clear when filming is going to begin just yet. The news that the new drama is happening is pretty recent. Though we do know it will be coming out on Paramount+ with Showtime. So be sure you've got a subscription to the platform eventually when we do have a release date.

While a release date hasn't been shared, there's some other details that have been announced. So what's it going to be about? What's been said about the upcoming project? Here's what we know so far!

What is the prequel about?

Dexter: Original Sin is set to take place 15 years before the original series started and before Dexter begins his string of murders, transitioning from "student to avenging serial killer," per the synopsis. The prequel will have a total of 10 episodes. It's not known yet whether it will just be one season like Dexter: New Blood (more on that below) or continue. We'll have to wait and see. Check out the synopsis below:

"Set in 1991 Miami, DEXTER: ORIGINAL SIN follows Dexter (Gibson) as he transitions from student to avenging serial killer. When his bloodthirsty urges can’t be ignored any longer, Dexter must learn to channel his inner darkness. With the guidance of his father, Harry (Slater), he adopts a Code designed to help him find and kill people who deserve to be eliminated from society without getting on law enforcements’ radar. This is a particular challenge for young Dexter as he begins a forensics internship at the Miami Metro Police Department.  "

I'm actually very interested in this, more than when New Blood was announced. Backstories are usually a bit more interesting, especially when it comes to finding out just how Dexter got to where he is when we see him in the main show.

Who is playing young Dexter Morgan?

Of course since this is a prequel series, that means we're going to see younger versions of the characters we know. That's especially the case when it comes to the titular character, Dexter Morgan. Taking on the very important role is Shadow and Bone actor Patrick Gibson. He played the king of Ravka in the shows second, and unfortunately final, season on Netflix. I mean, looking at his photo side by side with Hall, I can definitely see it! What do you think?

Also joining the cast are Christian Slater as Dexter's adoptive father Harry; Molly Brown as Dexter's sister Debra. These are both familiar characters from the original show. And they're not the only ones! Below we shared the cast list for the prequel, as well as the actors who played those characters in the 2006 Dexter series:

• Patrick Gibson as Dexter Morgan (originally played by Michael C. Hall)
• Christian Slater as Harry Morgan (originally played by James Remar)
• Molly Brown as Debra Morgan (originally played by Jennifer Carpenter)
• James Martinez as Angel Batista (originally played by David Zayas)
• Christina Milian as Maria LaGuerta (originally played by Lauren Vélez)
• Alex Shimizu as Vince Masuka (originally played by C. S. Lee)

It's not known whether Hall and Carpenter will make some kind of appearance in the prequel. Perhaps they could in a flashforward or something of the sort? Of course we always like it when original cast members are able to pop in to spinoffs or prequels. But since this story takes place 15 years before, I doubt that will be the case.

The Dexter franchise

The original Dexter series ran for 8 seasons from 2006 to 2013 on Showtime. It follows Dexter Morgan who is a forensic analyst and man with sociopathic tendencies after he saw his mother's gruesome murder when he was only three years old. Police officer Harry Morgan adopts him, and quickly recognizes Dexter's need to kill because of the trauma. So he trains his son to only kill criminals who are definitely guilty and committed a horrible crime, but don't end up getting punished by the criminal justice system.

In 2021, a 10-episode sequel series called Dexter: New Blood was released on Showtime. It takes place 10 years after the ending of Dexter when he faked his own death in a hurricane. He's under a new identity - Jim Lindsay - and working in the small town of Iron Lake, New York. He has a job, a girlfriend - cheif of police Angela Bishop, and has been able to supress his need to kill. Though when his estranged son Harrison shows up, that starts to change things. I won't spoil things for those of you who haven't seen it, but this sequel series definitely ends in a way that seems to show that there probably won't be anymore future-set Dexter shows.

The franchise is based on the eight novels by author Jeff Lindsay. We shared all the books below:

• Darkly Dreaming Dexter
• Dearly Devoted Dexter
• Dexter in the Dark
• Dexter by Design
• Dexter Is Delicious
• Double Dexter
• Dexter's Final Cut
• Dexter Is Dead

Dexter and Dexter: New Blood are streaming on Paramount+. Stay tuned to Hidden Remote as we bring you updates about Dexter: Original Sin on Paramount+ with Showtime!