Everybody's favorite serial killer is back: Dexter is getting a revival on Showtime, with original star Michael C. Hall set to return. Created back in 2006, Dexter followed Hall's titular forensic technician with a big secret: When he isn't helping solve crimes, Dexter's a serial killer who preys on the worst of humanity. It ran on Showtime for eight seasons in total before coming to an end in 2013. At its peak, Dexter was a critical darling that scored 13 Primetime Emmy nominations, including five for Hall and four for Outstanding Drama Series.
However, many noted that Dexter's critical performance waned over the years, particularly when it came to its final season. The controversial series finale, "Remember the Monsters?", left Dexter in a rather surprising position: While most people expected him to die, he instead faked his death and went to live a quiet life as a lumberjack. With that open-ended finish, fans wondered if Dexter's story could ever be continued somehow, and now they have their answer.
Per THR, Dexter is getting a limited series revival at Showtime. The 10-episode run will bring back both Hall and original showrunner Clyde Phillips, who exited the series after season 4. John Goldwyn, Sara Colleton, Bill Carraro and Scott Reynolds will also serve as executive producers alongside Phillips and Hall. It's said that this Dexter will be a continuation of the original show, and production is expected to begin in early 2021 ahead of a fall premiere. Additionally, the official Dexter social media account confirmed the return in typical bloody fashion, which you can see below.
Additionally, Showtime Entertainment president Gary Levine said this in a statement:
"Dexter is such a special series, both for its millions of fans and for Showtime, as this breakthrough show helped put our network on the map many years ago. We would only revisit this unique character if we could find a creative take that was truly worthy of the brilliant, original series. Well, I am happy to report that Clyde Phillips and Michael C. Hall have found it, and we can't wait to shoot it and show it to the world."
Considering the extremely negative responses Dexter's series finale received, this news might not be cause for celebration for many. However, there's one major thing working in the Dexter revival's favor: Phillips' return. The first four seasons were widely considered to be Dexter's best, and it was after Phillips left that the show's quality began to decline. Phillips has spoken openly about how he would end Dexter in a different way, and his involvement with the revival means he can end the story the way he always intended to. It can be easy to scoff at series revivals these days, but in this case, there seems to be a very good reason for it.
Beyond the returns of Hall and Phillips, it remains to be seen who will be involved with what is essentially Dexter season 9. Fans will likely hope to see the few characters who survived to the end of the series, but no one has been announced just yet. There's also a chance the revival could feature Dexter's grown son Harrison, which could make for an interesting dynamic. With the early 2021 production start, fans might learn a lot more about Dexter's return in the coming months.
Dexter will return to Showtime in Fall 2021.
Source: THR, Dexter on Showtime