‘Dexter’ EP Clyde Phillips Rips ‘Original Sin’ Cancellation

Dexter showrunner Clyde Phillips is, as one might expect, not thrilled with the way Paramount handled the prequel series Dexter: Original Sin.

Showtime renewed Original Sin in April, about two months after the series following a young Dexter Morgan (Patrick Gibson) concluded its season. In August, however — two weeks after the Paramount-Skydance merger closed — the company rescinded that pickup, while at the same time taking steps toward a second season of sequel series Dexter: Resurrection.

Sources told THR that despite the renewal, a second season of Original Sin had not been scheduled for the start of production.

“It was a tough phone call that I got,” Phillips said on the Dissecting Dexter podcast. “They had already picked up the show, and I had informed all the writers and all the actors. Then they un-picked it up. … It wasn’t handled well, and I’m not happy about it.”

Phillips hadn’t previously spoken publicly about the cancellation. He noted on the podcast that former Showtime head and Paramount co-CEO Chris McCarthy had pushed for the expansion of the Dexter franchise: “He wanted me to be his new Taylor Sheridan,” Phillips said, referring to the prolific Yellowstone co-creator. McCarthy left Paramount after the merger went through.

Phillips also said that he and his fellow writers had plotted out “a couple years” of Original Sin and were planning to introduce younger versions of Doakes (played by Erik King in the original series and Resurrection) and Capt. Matthews (Geoff Pierson in Dexter) and explore the relationship between Dexter and Brian (Roby Attal), Dexter’s biological brother who becomes the primary antagonist in season one of the original series.

With Original Sin canceled, Phillips is also skeptical that another prequel focused on the Trinity Killer (played by John Lithgow in season four of the original show) will go forward. “Trinity is on the back burner, and I don’t think they’re going to go for it,” he said of Paramount. “If they canceled Original Sinwhich is a built-in hit, how are they going to pick up Trinity? If they do, I’d be delighted, but I don’t see them doing it.”