Warning: SPOILERS for Dexter: New Blood episode 10.
While Dexter: New Blood was initially marketed as a limited series, season 1’s ending left plenty more story to tell, leaving the door wide open for a possible season 2. Dexter: New Blood’s reboot series brought back Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan in order to redeem the original show's hated finale. In returning to the series, New Blood also brought back his son Harrison Morgan, sister Debra Morgan, and a few cameos from the original show to add to Dexter’s new life in the fictional town of Iron Lake. When considering how Dexter: New Blood season 1 ended, it appears that the titular character's story is over—but Harrison Morgan’s is not.
Dexter: New Blood’s season 1 finale saw Dexter arrested for the murder of Matt Caldwell by his girlfriend Angela Bishop, who also suspects that he may be Miami’s Bay Harbor Butcher. When escaping from the police station, Dexter attempted to rendezvous with Harrison and leave town, but Harrison ended up turning on his father. In Dexter: New Blood’s twist ending, Harrison fatally shot Dexter for killing an innocent and causing the deaths of so many others, with Dexter talking his son through pulling the trigger. Angela let Harrison go after he readied his hands to be cuffed, so New Blood season 1 closed with Harrison driving out of Iron Lake.
The final twist of Dexter: New Blood was surprising and heartbreaking, but makes sense as the inevitable way to close out the series. Dexter’s story could never end without Dexter Morgan's death, especially when Harrison was suffering from his sins; thus the finale episode's title “Sins of the Father”. That said, the ending suggests that the entirety of New Blood’s story isn’t over yet. Here’s everything we know so far about Dexter: New Blood season 2, including whether it has been renewed by Showtime, which cast members could return, and the possible release date.
Is Dexter: New Blood Season 2 Renewed?
While Showtime has yet to officially announce Dexter: New Blood season 2 or a spinoff series, the prospects for a return seem high. Clyde Phillips revealed (via THR) that if Showtime lets him return to the series with Dexter: New Blood season 2, focussing on Harrison instead of Dexter, he would be on board. Dexter's original series writer Scott Reynolds also revealed on Twitter that he has an exciting announcement about Dexter for Monday morning, which many presume will be the reveal of an official spinoff. Reynolds wrote Dexter: New Blood episode 9, “The Family Business", which is the highest-rated installment of the season, so his returning for a second season is a positive look for the series. Considering the enormous popularity of Dexter: New Blood’s reboot for Showtime, it seems that a second season or spinoff series is inevitable from a business standpoint.
How Dexter: New Blood's Ending Sets Up Another Series
Similar to Dexter’s controversial season 8 finale, Dexter: New Blood’s season 1 ending is fairly ambiguous, thus setting up a second season or spinoff series. The show ended with Angela calling Angel Batista up to Iron Lake to confirm Dexter was the Bay Harbor Butcher, Harrison killing Dexter, and Angela letting Harrison leave town while she takes the fall for Dexter’s death. With no closure on where Harrison is going after killing his father and whether Dexter will actually be confirmed as the Bay Harbor Butcher, Dexter: New Blood season 2 seems all but confirmed. While Dexter: New Blood’s season 1 ending closed out the main character's story, there is still much more left to tell when considering Harrison’s future and the aftermath of whether Miami Metro will get closure on the Bay Harbor Butcher case.
Dexter: New Blood Season 2 Cast - Who Could Return?
The most obvious character return for Dexter: New Blood season 2 or a spinoff is actor Jack Alcott as Harrison Morgan, who would have to lead the series. Other possible returning characters from Dexter: New Blood's season 1 finale are Julia Jones as Angela Bishop, Johnny Sequoyah as Audrey Bishop, David Zayas as Angel Batista, Oscar Wahlberg as Zach, Andrew Fama as Scott, and David Magidoff as Teddy. If Harrison has more flashbacks to his mother’s death, Dexter season 10 could also bring back John Lithgow for a Trinity Killer cameo. Since Jennifer Carpenter as Debra Morgan only returned in Dexter: New Blood as Dexter’s imaginary conscience, it seems unlikely that she would appear again going forward.
While Dexter Morgan died in Dexter: New Blood's ending, Dexter viewers know that death doesn’t mean the end of a character. Michael C. Hall could return in Dexter: New Blood season 2 as a manifestation of Harrison’s conscience, similar to Deb and Harry for Dexter in New Blood and throughout the original series. A sequel series or Dexter: New Blood season 2 likely wouldn’t work without Michael C. Hall back as Dexter in one way or another, so it seems that a return would require his presence. On the other hand, Julie Benz as Rita Morgan could also take on this role, as she would have been Harrison’s guiding light for morality as his mother. If Harrison returns to Miami, Dexter: New Blood season 2 could revive the two most important missing characters of the reboot: Christina Robinson and Preston Bailey as Astor and Cody, Harrison’s half-siblings.
When Dexter: New Blood Season 2 Could Release Predicted
Thankfully, it doesn’t appear Dexter fans will have to wait another 8 years before a Harrison spinoff or Dexter: New Blood season 2 is released on Showtime. Instead, it would likely need approximately a year after its announcement to move forward. Dexter: New Blood was first announced in October 2020, and episode 1 of Dexter: New Blood was released almost exactly a year later on November 7, 2021. If New Blood season 2 or the proposed Harrison spinoff is announced on Monday, January 10 as suspected, Dexter: New Blood season 2’s release date could be as soon as late 2022 or early 2023.