If there is one thing that I know about today’s entertainment industry, it is that people love nostalgia and stories about serial killers. In that regard, Dexter: Original Sin is establishing itself as one of the greatest treats on the upcoming 2024 TV shows schedule.
The series is nostalgia fuel for two reasons: it is a prequel to Showtime’s hit drama about a forensic investigator who channels his deadly instincts into taking out some truly awful criminals, and it is set in the early 1990s. The original series, which starred Emmy nominee Michael C. Hall in the title role from 2006 to 2013, offered glimpses into his past, tracing his evolution into a virulent vigilante but it appears that there are still a few gaps which Dexter: Original Sin intends to fill. Let’s take a look at what we know about this prequel series so far.
What Is The Dexter: Original Sin Premiere Date?
Dexter: Original Sin is set to make its streaming premiere on December 13, 2024, at which point it will be available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription with the Showtime add-on. Soon after, it will make its official network premiere on Showtime on December 15, 2024.
The First Dexter: Original Sin Teaser Offers A Brief Glimpse Into The Character’s Early Career
The ‘90s nostalgia is subtle but an undeniably crucial element of the latest first look teaser trailer for Dexter: Original Sin. Set to a remix of Benny Benassi’s electronic dance hit “Satisfaction” and featuring narration by Michael C. Hall, the clip is merely a 30-second montage, but offers quite a bit to be excited for, especially the period-accurate hairstyles, reveals of how the new cast members look in familiar roles, and glimpses of the young title character’s deadly ambitions. See for yourself by checking it out here:
At 2024’s San Diego Comic-Con, fans who attended the Dexter: Original Sin panel were treated to a sneak peek of the series’ opening credits sequence, which probably looked quite familiar to fans of the original. In addition to including a rework of Rolfe Kent’s theme music, it even opens with young Dexter slapping a mosquito attempting to drink blood from his arm and ends with him giving a seemingly innocent grin while walking outside the front door. Of course, the major difference is that, instead of our title character’s regular morning routine, he and his family are preparing for the day of his graduation, showing us that his journey truly is beginning.
What Dexter: Original Sin Is About
All eight seasons of Dexter in its original run involved flashbacks that painted a clearer picture of how he came to be a murderer with boundaries, going back far into his youth when his tendencies first became apparent. However, the series did not show much from his rookie years as a forensic specialist. Any viewers who have ever been curious to see that part of his life will earn their wish with Dexter: Original Sin.
The 10-episode series will take place in 1991, and follow Dexter as he interns as a forensic analyst at the Miami Metro Police Department. At this time, however, the law enforcer-in-training struggles to follow the law as his homicidal urges reach an all-time high. Thus, Harry makes it his responsibility to guide his adoptive son in the right direction, leading to the development of a moral code that Dexter fans are already well aware of.
The Dexter: Original Sin Cast Sees New Actors Play Familiar Characters
Michael C. Hall once told Steel City Con in 2023 (via ComicBook.com) that casting him as a younger version of his definitive role might not be the best idea at this point in his career. The makers of the upcoming prequel series seemed to agree, as evidenced by the new rotation of actors in the Dexter: Original Sin cast portraying the title role as a younger man and other characters fans should recognize.
Patrick Gibson (Dexter Morgan)
Portraying Dexter Morgan as a forensic trainee is Patrick Gibson, who is likely best known from the Shadow and Bone cast as Nikolai Lantsov. The English actor also starred in the Netflix series, The OA, and starred opposite Nicholas Hoult in Tolkien.
Christian Slater (Harry Morgan)
Succeeding the role of Dexter’s adoptive father, Officer Harry Morgan, from James Remar is his Tales from the Darkside: The Movie co-star, Christian Slater, who previously played a mentor to a troubled young man to Golden Globe-winning acclaim in Mr. Robot. Before his small screen success, he achieved great big screen success in the ‘80s and ‘90s, such as with the classic high school movie, Heathers, and the Quentin Tarantino-penned True Romance.
Molly Brown (Debra Morgan)
Starring as Dexter’s teenage sister, Deb (one of Jennifer Carpenter’s best roles), is Molly Brown, who previously played a character’s younger self in the Senior Year cast. The 2022 high school comedy was actually her second Netflix original movie after 2020’s Lost Girls, which was also her feature film debut after making guest appearances in several acclaimed TV shows, including Law & Order: SVU and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
James Martinez (Angel Batista)
Portraying Angel Batista in his early detective years is James Martinez, who – like the role’s original actor, David Zayas – has played a few cops in his day, such as Det. Oscar Torres in 2015’s Run All Night, or Officer Salazar in an episode of Blue Bloods. He is even better known, however, for playing a father to queer teens in both Netflix’s One Day at a Time and Hulu’s Love, Victor, and his small but pivotal role on one of the best Breaking Bad episodes as Gus Fring’s slain former business partner, Max Arciniega.
Christina Milian (Maria LaGuerta)
Portraying Maria LaGuerta in her early detective years is Christina Milian, who – like the role’s original actor, Luna Lauren Velez – has also played a cop before, namely Christine Parks on Season 2 of The Oath. The Grammy-nominated singer and actor is also known for the 2003 remake of Can’t Buy Me Love called Love Don’t Cost a Thing, 2006’s American remake of the acclaimed Japanese horror movie, Pulse, and a made-for TV remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show from 2016.
Patrick Dempsey (Aaron Spencer)
Speaking of Can’t Buy Me Love, the 1987 comedy’s star Patrick Dempsey has a regular role in the Dexter: Original Sin cast as Captain Aaron Spencer from Miami Metro’s Homicide Division. Despite being best known for playing a doctor in the Grey’s Anatomy cast, the Emmy-nominated actor already has some horror cred from his most notable cop portrayals in the past, namely in the Scream movies (the third one) and in Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving, more recently.
Alex Shimizu (Vince Masuka)
Dexter’s boss, forensic analyst Vince Masuka, is played by Alex Shimizu, who – like the role’s original actor, C.S. Lee – has appeared in his fair share of TV crime dramas, such as CBS’s S.W.A.T. and NBC’s The Blacklist in the recurring role of Tadashi Ito. He also appeared opposite Jenna Ortega in a few episodes of Disney’s Stuck in the Middle, was in Season 2 of AMC’s anthology horror TV show, The Terror, and was in a coming-of-age comedy movie called The Outcasts in 2017.
Reno Wilson (Bobby Watt)
A new character to the world of Dexter – Harry’s partner, Bobby Watt – is Reno Wilson, who also has a number of notable cop roles under belt, such as Carl on Mike and Molly. Highlights of his decades-long career – which began with a recurring role on The Cosby Show – also include the NBC dramedy Good Girls, movies like Sgt. Bilko and Fallen, and lending his voice to the Transformers movies as multiple robotic roles.
Michael C. Hall (The Inner Voice Of Dexter)
While we established at the top that Hall is not reprising Dexter’s younger self in Dexter: Original Sin, he is returning to the role in an unexpected way. Much like he did in the original series, the actor will serve as the narrator of this new show, credited as “The Inner Voice of Dexter.”
Sarah Michelle Gellar (Tanya Martin)
In a special guest-starring role in the Dexter: Original Sin cast is Sarah Michelle Gellar as the head of Miami Metro's CSI division, Tanya Martin. The actor is one of the most esteemed Scream Queens of her generation, particularly for her lead role in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast, but is also known for playing Daphne in 2002's live-action Scooby-Doo movie, starring in Cruel Intentions, and more.
Recurring Roles In The Dexter: Original Sin Cast
According to Deadline, there are quite a few notable names set to star in recurring roles in the Dexter: Original Sin cast, such as Emmy winner Joe Pantoliano as “Mad Dog." It Keeps You Alive star Brittany Allen also stars as Dexter's biological mother, Laura Moser, and as his adoptive mother and Harry's wife, Doris, we have Jasper Lewis, who is best known from the 2012 anthology horror movie, V/H/S.
Randy Gonzalez from Netflix's Bloodline plays a character named Santos Jimenez, Aaron Jennings of Pure Genius fame appears as Clark Sanders, and Raquel Justice (who had a recurring role on One Day at a Time) plays Sofia Lewis. We also have Carlo Mendez (who played Officer Benji Ramos on 35 episodes of The Bay) as Hector Estrada, Isaac Gonzalez Rossi (the male lead of Netflix's 2022 rom-com That’s Amor) as Gio, and Roberto Sanchez from Palm Royale as Tony Ferrer.
Michael C. Hall Is An Executive Producer
In addition to narrating, the star of the original Dexter cast is involved with Original Sin from behind the scenes. Michael C. Hall has also signed onto this prequel to one of his best TV shows as an executive producer.
The showrunner for Dexter: Original Sin is Clyde Phillips, who also served as the EP for the first four, and arguably best, seasons of Dexter and the limited series follow-up, Dexter New Blood. Fellow executive producers include Scott Reynolds, Mary Leah Sutton, Tony Hernandez, and Lilly Burns. Robert Lloyd Lewis also has a producing credit while Michael Lehmann is the directing executive producer.
A Follow-Up Dexter Series Is Also In The Works
The Dexter: Original Sin panel at SDCC concluded with a very special announcement that there is yet another series from this universe coming soon. This one will be a continuation of Dexter: New Blood called Dexter: Resurrection and will see Hall reprise the character once again.
Those who saw the limited series continuation from 2021 may be confused as it ended with Dexter’s long-lost son, Harrison (Jack Alcott), shooting him dead. How the new show intends to bring the character back to life is a mystery we are anxious to see resolved. Variety attempted to get the scoop, but the actor only gave this cryptic response:
“I don’t know what I am authorized to say other than, it’s really cold out there.”
There had been previous reports of Dexter: New Blood continuing with a second season that would follow Harrison as the protagonist before that idea was scrapped. However, one would hope that Alcott gets the chance to come back as there is plenty more of his character's story to tell.
It looks like there is quite a bit in the Dexter franchise to look forward to. For now, we are just dying to see more of our favorite serial killer’s secrets come to light in Dexter: Original Sin.
