Clyde Phillips, creator of “Dexter: Original Sin,” spoke out after an update and cancellation of the Paramount+ Serial Killer Prequel series.
Despite the series being renewed in season 2 in April, Variety broke the news that “original sin” was killed by streamers in August.
“It was a tough call that I got that night. They had already picked up the show, so they notified all the writers to all the actors and let them go,” Phillips said on the “Dexter Dissection” podcast. “It’s not handled well and I’m not happy about it.”
The prequel, starring Patrick Gibson as the young Dexter Morgan, will not return to Season 2, but Paramount+ plans to open the writer’s room for a potential season 2 of Dexter: The Resurrection, reported in August.
Regarding the “Dexter Analysis” podcast, Phillips said plans for the franchise were shaken up by the Paramount merger with SkyDance. Phillips claimed that former Paramount boss Chris McCarthy “wanted to expand “Dexter.”
“He wanted me to be his new Taylor Sheridan,” Phillips said. “We look forward to introducing the last few years and introducing new characters,” Phillips added, suggesting that he is developing the idea for a spinoff based on younger versions of James Dorkes (Eric King) and Captain Matthews (Jeff Pearson).
Phillips also mentioned the “Trinitarian” spinoff in development. This is the first part show centering around a killer played by John Lithgow in the original Dexter. Phillips said he spent a year in the writer’s room in Los Angeles, completing 10 scripts for “Trinity,” along with 10 scripts for the project, following Dexter’s son Harrison.
Phillips said he spent a year “writing all these shows” and “(“Dexter”) – creating poems,” but “the merger happened and Paramount had other plans.” When asked if there was a move in the “Trinity” series, Phillips said it was still on the “back burner” and “I don’t think I’ll go to (Paramount) to be honest. I think I’m interested in a “revival.”
“If they cancel the built-in hit “original sin,” how do they pick up the “Trinitty”? ” asked Phillips. “If that’s the case, I’d be happy, but I don’t see them doing it.”