There’s a simple reason Dexter: Original Sin was cancelled

Dexter: Original Sin, a prequel to the original series, was cancelled by Paramount and Showtime despite earlier being renewed for a second season – but why?

The show, developed by Clyde Phillips (who served as Dexter’s showrunner for the first four seasons), follows Dexter 15 years before he moonlights as a serial killer in Miami, showing how he gave in to his dark urges and learned to channel his inner darkness, with the help of his father.

It was relatively well-reviewed, earning a 70% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and it was warmly received by fans too (though not as much as Resurrection, which has been hailed as one of the best entries in the franchise).

Given the enduring popularity of Dexter, Original Sin was expected to return. This is where it gets a little strange.

Why was Dexter: Original Sin cancelled?

Showtime

There are two reasons why Dexter: Original Sin was cancelled. Firstly, its viewership was lower than Dexter: Resurrection, and secondly, the Skydance-Paramount merger is said to have impacted the franchise’s plans.

When Original Sin premiered, it was touted as Showtime’s most-streamed series in 10 years, and its viewership grew 27% for its finale, garnering 2.68 million global viewers.

That’s not an insignificant number, but Resurrection drew 4.4 million multiplatform viewers in its first week, and it has earned stronger reviews. If Paramount had to pick one project to stick with, Resurrection is the easy choice.

A reminder to help save Dexter: Original Sin from cancellation. 📣

More than 62,000 people have signed so far in the main petition.

Every signature matters. WE CAN DO THIS! https://t.co/DAEsPpmJzw#DexterOriginalSin #Dexter pic.twitter.com/hWGO4HoMc5

— Dexter Daily (@DexterDaily) August 31, 2025

However, it’s worth noting that Deadline reported Original Sin being renewed for Season 2 in April this year. “A Season 2 writers room is set to begin shortly, with production dates to be revealed soon,” the outlet wrote.

This may have been true at the time, but the finalization of the Skydance-Paramount merger appears to have shaken things up behind the scenes.

“Sources say the series has in fact been on hiatus and no plans to shoot a second season had moved forward and no production dates were scheduled,” Variety reported, adding that Skydance TV chief Matt Thunell “decided to focus on Resurrection and Hall’s role as Morgan as they look to continue the Dexter franchise.”

With the Dexter: Resurrection finale set to air this week, a Season 2 announcement is reportedly imminent.

In the meantime, check out what else is dropping this year with our 2025 TV show calendar and our list of the best TV shows of all time.