Why was ‘Dexter: Original Sin’ cancelled?

Despite being renewed earlier this year, Dexter: Original Sin is no longer returning for a second season.

Created by Clyde Phillips, the prequel series served as an origin story for Dexter Morgan set in 1991, where the young killer was played by Patrick Gibson.

Michael C. Hall, who played the character in the original series, served as a producer on the spin-off show, and provided the voice of young Dexter’s inner monologue.

Along with Gibson, the show’s cast included Molly Brown, Christina Milan, Christian Slater, James Martinez, Alex Shimizu and Reno Wilson.

What is the reason for Dexter: Original Sin’s cancellation?

While there’s no official word regarding the show’s cancellation from Paramount, Dexter: Original Sin’s fate seems to have been determined by multiple factors.

Dexter: Original Sin was green-lit for a second season in April, but according to Variety, the show was on a hiatus and no plans were in place to shoot a second season.

However, the crucial factor appears to be the recent merger between Skydance and Paramount. According to the report, it’s claimed Skydance Television president Matt Thunell, who now oversees Showtime productions with his team, decided to focus on sequel series Dexter: Resurrection instead to continue the franchise.

A second season of Dexter: Resurrection, which sees Michael C. Hall reprise his classic role, is now reportedly being considered. The show serves as a continuation of Dexter: New Blood and debuted in July 2025 to positive reviews.

Following Dexter: Original Sin’s abrupt end, fans have started campaigning to save the show. A Change.org petition titled “Save Dexter: Original Sin from cancellation” has already amassed over 30,000 signatures at the time of writing.

Where can I watch the show?

All ten episodes of Dexter: Original Sin are available on Paramount+ in the UK. You can watch the sequel series, Dexter Resurrection, on the streaming service too.