Showtime President of Entertainment, David Nevins, is quickly becoming one of the most noncommittal and chatty network heads in the business - taking every TV-related event he attends as an opportunity to toy with the emotions of Dexter fans.

However, this time, Nevins is set to deliver some good news and intriguing details for fans of the Bay Harbor Butcher - as the Showtime executive indicates that, while the writing team is still working toward a Dexter season 8 end-date, there's still a possibility that the show could continue on into season 9 and beyond.

Speaking at the Television Critics Association winter press tour, Nevins remained open to the possibility of further seasons of Dexter as well as offered an intriguing detail about what audiences might be able to expect next season:

"[Season 8] is the likely endpoint, but I'm leaving open the possibility that plans could change [...] I think there's a very clear trajectory now of where they're going. I think it's going to help to write with that endgame in mind. I've been pushing to shake up the formula a little bit. I think there should be fundamentally different dynamics now."

The comments echo similar assertions from Nevins following Showtime's official announcement that Dexter would be back for season 7 and 8. At the time, Nevins implied that they intended to wrap-up the story lines and go out with a bang - unless they decided they'd rather keep going:

“I’m not going to say with absolute certainty that this is the end, but that is the likely scenario, that the series is moving towards a definite end.”

[Warning! The remainder of this article contains numerous Dexter Season 6 SPOILERS]

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Still here? Nevins also dropped a short, but especially interesting, detail about just how the writers intend to "shake up the formula" - implying that, in the coming months, Dexter may no longer work as "such a lone wolf."

Could this mean that Deb, who recently caught her brother mid-ritualistic killing act, will actually join-up with Dexter's cause and help round-up Miami's surprisingly robust stable of active serial killers - outside the confines of the law? That said, earlier reports seemed to indicate that Deb might not truly understand the full extent of what she witnessed in the Season 6 finale (i.e. Dexter may have offed the Doomsday Killer but that doesn't mean he's full-blown serial killer). As a result, it's certainly possible that someone else, potentially serial killer fan Louis, could be the other "wolf" in Miami - though, that might be a bit too similar to the Miguel Prado (Jimmy Smits) storyline from Dexter season 3.

Jennifer Carpenter David Zayas Billy Brown Dexter season 6 finale

Nevins also briefly discussed whether there is on-set tension between former off-screen husband/wife and on-screen brother/sister pair Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter - which is especially relevant now that Deb has admitted she's in love with her (non-biological) adopted brother - "It makes for an interesting ripple in the show." According to The Wrap, Nevins believes audiences will "'figure in' the dynamic" but also asserts that, wherever the writers want to take the show, Showtime won't be held-back because "Michael and Jennifer have a really good relationship."

Regardless of whether or not it's awkward on set, many viewers will probably attest that watching Deb pine after her adopted brother is, at the very least, still awkward to watch.

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Follow me on Twitter @benkendrick for further updates.

Source: The Wrap