The original article from the Los Angeles Times, shared by sho_dexter on their social media accounts, highlights how fans were displeased with both the 2013 ending of Dexter and the 2022 conclusion of its revival, Dexter: New Blood.
Despite this, Paramount Global CEO Chris McCarthy saw an opportunity to capitalize on the show's passionate fanbase.
“To fall in love with a serial killer, frankly, takes a minute. I knew that there would be a really big opportunity if we could crack the nut of what is the love and passion of the series but then actually explode it into a franchise.” McCarthy, president and CEO of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks, said in an interview.
Dexter follows Yellowstone's steps
So, Paramount is taking a bold step by expanding one of Showtime's most cherished series, similar to how they transformed Taylor Sheridan’s “Yellowstone” into an expansive western universe with spinoffs and prequels. The first show in this new venture is Dexter: Original Sin, premiering this December.
Clyde Phillips, the original showrunner for both Dexter and Dexter: New Blood, had watched every episode of “Yellowstone” and its Paramount+ prequels, “1883” and “1923,” so he understood McCarthy’s vision when they began discussing the future of the franchise.
Engaging both new and longtime fans
By creating new content like the prequel Dexter: Original Sin and the sequel Dexter: Resurrection, featuring the return of Michael C. Hall, Paramount aims to draw in both old and new viewers.
“This will appeal to a new audience, who will then go back and watch the original show,” Phillips said of the strategy. “That’s the wisdom here. Rather than just continuing with the show, we’re giving them a prequel, and they can watch and say, ‘Hmm, this is interesting. I wonder what the old show is.’ ”
Dexter's triumphant return to Netflix
The overarching goal is to leverage Dexter and new Showtime series like “The Agency” starring Michael Fassbender to attract a larger audience to Paramount+.
Enhancing Paramount’s streaming capabilities is a top priority for the company during a turbulent period of change. Paramount and David Ellison’s Skydance Media are set to merge next year, following approval from Paramount’s board and its controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone.
To further boost the Dexter expansion, Paramount collaborated with Netflix.
Given that Dexter fans are typically aged 40 to 60, Paramount sought a way to attract younger viewers. To achieve this, they signed a one-year licensing deal allowing Netflix to stream the original eight seasons.
Executives hope for a "Netflix effect" similar to the one that revitalized “Suits” as a streaming hit years after its original run on USA Network.
A hope for the future
McCarthy is hopeful that both old and new fans will return to Paramount+ for more.
“We can create a universe as big as we want, but there is still a really large younger audience that is not in our service today but could potentially be,” McCarthy said. “Those were the elements that we pulled together to make what I think is going to be a monster hit for us.”