‘Dexter’s Trinity Killer Prequel Series is Still Alive at Showtime

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As a seasoned movie critic with a penchant for dark dramas and a soft spot for antiheroes, I must say that the resurgence of the Dexter franchise has left me both intrigued and somewhat skeptical. The success of Dexter: Original Sin, which has set new records for Showtime, certainly suggests there’s still life in this unique serial killer saga. However, the prospect of another prequel series focusing on the Trinity Killer feels like treading familiar ground, given my memories of John Lithgow’s chilling portrayal in the original series and his brief reappearance in Dexter: New Blood.

The plans for a “Yellowstone”-like expansion of the Dexter universe appear to be progressing, with the previously announced prequel series about the Trinity Killer moving forward. The success of “Dexter: Original Sin” has demonstrated that there’s still life in the Dexter story, as the prequel series featuring everyone’s favorite serial killer has been breaking records for Showtime. As per a recent Deadline report, the next installment in the franchise is currently under development, with Dexter veterans Clyde Phillips and Scott Reynolds on board as co-creators and executive producers.

In the original “Dexter” series, John Lithgow portrayed The Trinity Killer, a role he revisited briefly in “Dexter: New Blood.” Interestingly, it was revealed in 2023 that there were plans underway for a prequel series involving Dexter. This is unusual because the show itself ended in 2013 and “New Blood” experienced a decline following its finale, despite an initial successful return.

Despite the controversial ending, it became the most-viewed episode ever on Showtime, prompting a desire for further tales within the Dexter universe. This shift in strategy came about as Dexter (previously) seemed to be out of play following New Blood. Instead, the focus moved towards reversing the narrative perspective, a method Phillips had previously suggested.

Initially, we scripted all ten episodes for the sequel, but later on, Chris McCarthy from MTV Entertainment and Paramount joined us and expressed that he’s more interested in prequels rather than sequels. This is because he had previously worked on prequels like 1883 and 1923 based on Yellowstone. So, he posed the question, “Can you develop a prequel within two weeks?

The Trinity Killer Prequel Seemed to Be On Hold

Prior to the groundbreaking premiere of “Dexter: Original Sin,” which set new records, the sequel series titled “Dexter: Resurrection” was well underway in its production process. Contrary to initial assumptions that Dexter had met his end after being shot and left for dead by his son, this new series will continue the storyline from where it ended in “New Blood.” However, during the press tour for “New Blood,” Michael C. Hall hinted that the Trinity Killer prequel might be postponed. He stated:

“We wrote the entire Trinity Killer series. At the moment, it is on the back burner. John Lithgow has agreed to be the voice of his younger self the way Michael Hall is doing for [Original Sin]. There’s that and we’re doing another show with Michael C. Hall, [Resurrection]… We were writing that while shooting Original Sin, so that’s fairly busy. We begin shooting [Resurrection] in January and it will air in June 2025.”

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but speculate that with the overwhelming success of “Original Sin,” Showtime might be keen to capitalize on the momentum and potentially launch several spinoffs. If my assumptions are correct, we could soon see the Trinity Killer prequel gaining traction within the next few months. Simultaneously, “Dexter: Original Sin” continues to unfold new episodes on both Showtime and Paramount +.

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2024-12-24 04:04