Multiple sources confirm that Showtime is not moving forward with a second season of the phenomenally successful revival, Dexter: New Blood. However, the network is far from done with the Dexter franchise.
Originally, Dexter: New Blood was considered a limited series. The sequel - then in development due to the series' success - would star Dexter's now grown son Harrison, played by Jack Alcott (The Good Lord Bird), pick up where the first season left off.
The decision to cancel the second season still comes as a surprise, as Dexter: New Blood was Showtime's most-watched series in premium cable history. The ten-episode continuation in 2021 averaged eight million weekly viewers. But as mentioned above, the end of New Blood doesn't mean the end of Dexter. Far from it.
According to insiders, Showtime - soon to merge with Paramount+ - is exploring a number of new versions of Dexter, including a prequel series centered around a young version of the titular anti-hero.
A Showtime representative was unavailable for comment on New Blood's quasi-cancellation or the franchise's future.
Immediately after the New Blood finale, showrunner Clyde Phillips said that a possible second season "is totally in Showtime's hands," adding, "If they called me and said, 'We want to do a second season, we want you to figure it out," and even though I'm pretty busy, I'd drop whatever I'm doing and jump right in. I'd love to, but it's really up to Showtime."