Dex Appeal: TV’s serial-killer killer to be revived…

The original Dexter series, based on the books by Jeff Lindsay, ran from 2006-2013 and was a cult hit for Showtime. Dexter Morgan (MIchael C. Hall) was a top forensic blood spatter analyst for the police but also happened to be a serial-killer. Found in an horrendous crime-scene as a three-year-old infant, he was adopted by Harry Morgan (James Remar), a police-officer, who realised Dexter had some sociopathic inclinations but sympathised with his trauma and managed to train the boy to hide those as best as possible and – if pushed – only use those impulses on criminals. Now, years later, he works alongside his half-sister Debra Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) for the Miami Metro Police Department and tries to balance those aspects of his life… but though his day-job helps him stay hidden from investigators, it’s inevitable that both aspects of his life begin to unravel and there are plenty of casualties (innocent and less so) along the way.

The cable series was pretty bloody, dark and explicit and garnered a huge following. Hall (who took a break from filming after season four for treatment of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma) and guest-star John Lithgow ultimately both won Golden Globes. It finished with its eighth season in 2013, but fans were somewhat disappointed that (spoilers)………………………… Debra dies and Dexter vanishes with many believing he is also dead…. though he’s actually gone into self-imposed exile far away from his old life. Fans hoped there might be a reprieve but with ratings not as high as they once were, it seemed unlikely.

However, nearly eight years on, Showtime has now confirmed they are working on a ten-episode revival of the series which would act as an official continuation of the original show and bringing Michael C. Hall back to the title role. Though there are few details – beyond the continued participation of Hall and show-runner Clyde Phillips, it is expected the show could start production in early 2021 for release later that year.

Gary Levine, Co-President of Entertainment at Showtime, said 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.”