Anti-heroes are quite common to see as leading characters in television series and films today. However, when Dexter premiered in 2006, the wave of anti-heroes had not yet been born. And so, Dexter Morgan became one of the most memorable characters of recent history. Though the series ended with a somewhat controversial and unsatisfying finale, in October 2020, Showtime revealed that they had ordered a reboot of the serial killer drama to series.
Here is everything we know about Showtime’s Dexter: New Blood.
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Showtime unveiled the official title, Dexter: New Blood, during Comic-Con@Home.
Dexter: New Blood Plot
In the original series, Dexter (Michael C. Hall) is a CSI tech who specializes in blood spatter working for the Miami Police Department. He’s also a serial killer whose rigid code of ethics means he only kills “bad” people who’ve gotten away with their crimes because of the highly flawed legal system. This premise lasted eight seasons on Showtime and led to a finale that had Dexter fake his own death and escape to a remote, secluded life in Oregon.
The finale was a huge disappointment to fans of the show. In fact, Hall includes himself as one of the many who were left “unsatisfied” with the finale. However, Hall, and showrunner Clyde Phillips, hope the new series will answer fans lingering questions about what happened to the complicated killer.
When we meet Dexter again, he’s no longer working in forensics. In an interview with EW, Hall shares that Dexter lives a quiet and peaceful life working as a sales associate at a fish & game shop. And he’s dating a cop, too. So life is going pretty well for the killer. That is, until one day, something sets him off, that is.
According to the official synopsis, the series takes place “10 years after Dexter went missing in the eye of Hurricane Laura, the series finds him living under an assumed name in the small town of Iron Lake, New York. Dexter may be embracing his new life, but in the wake of unexpected events in this close-knit community, his Dark Passenger beckons.”
Clancy Brown, a newcomer to the series, might have a little to do with Dexter’s unraveling. Brown portrays Kurt Caldwell, the beloved unofficial mayor of Iron Lake. In the above EW piece he notes, “We will get an explanation of why he does what he does, which is kind of interesting.”
In a TV Guide report the showrunner states the series will “explore themes that revolve around fathers and sons.” The cable network unveiled a trailer at Comic-Con @ Home in July.
A second trailer, with more new characters and more on the story, debuted on September 9, 2021.
Behind the Scenes
Clyde Phillips returns as the limited series showrunner and executive producer. Phillips previously was also the show’s writer, though he exited before the controversial and disappointing finale.
Though we last saw Dexter living in Oregon, the new series will take place in Upstate New York. However, EW reports that Massachusetts doubled as the fictional Iron Lake, where Dexter now resides.
Dexter: New Blood Cast
Hall reprises the titular character, Dexter Morgan. Additionally, Jennifer Carpenter returns as Debra, Dexter’s complicated adopted sister. And John Lithgow, who plays the iconic Trinity Killer on the show’s third season, will also return. However, as fans of the original show recall, both Trinity and Deb are dead. During the TCA press event, Carpenter states that though Deb is imaginary, she doesn’t “think of her as a ghost. More of a link or an echo or an inconvenient truth for Dexter.” Whereas how and why Trinity returns are under wraps.
Some of the new members of the cast include Julia Jones (The Mandalorian), Alano Miller (Sylvie’s Love), Johnny Sequoyah (Believe), Jack Alcott (The Good Lord Bird), Jamie Chung (Lovecraft Country), and Clancy Brown (The Crown).
Dexter: New Blood Release Date
Dexter: New Blood premieres on Sunday, November 7 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime. The limited series includes 10 episodes that will air weekly.
Originally published on August 27, 2021. Updated on September 9, 2021.
