Teen Dexter Morgan is dead. Long live adult Dexter Morgan.

Paramount has killed Dexter prequel series Dexter: Original Sin despite previously announcing its season 2 renewal, Entertainment Weekly has confirmed.

James Remar as Harry Morgan and Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan on ‘Dexter: Resurrection’.

Zach Dilgard/Paramount+

However, the entire franchise is not dead. EW has learned that a writers’ room for season 2 of sequel series Dexter: Resurrection is beginning soon. While Dexter: Resurrection has not been officially renewed, the company intends to greenlight a second season.

In April, Showtime renewed Dexter: Original Sin for season 2 only six weeks after the prequel aired its finale. However, that decision has now been reversed, and season 2 is not moving forward. Sources tell EW that the series has been on hiatus since airing all 10 episodes, and a start date for production on season 2 was never scheduled.

Sources also tell EW that the Dexter franchise is still a priority at Paramount despite this news. They’re now pivoting to continuing telling a current story about the serial killer rather than one set in the past.

This move comes on the heels of a major behind-the-scenes shakeup at the company, as Paramount merged with Skydance. Previously under the Showtime/MTV Entertainment division, the Dexter franchise is now part of the Paramount Television Studios umbrella.

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Dexter: Original Sin took place in 1991, 15 years before the original show, chronicling the origin story of the titular killer with Patrick Gibson taking over as the teen version previously played by Michael C. Hall. By the end of the 10-episode season, Dexter perfected his killing ritual, his sister Deb (Molly Brown) started her career as a cop at Miami Metro, and his older brother Brian Moser a.k.a. the Ice Truck Killer (Roby Attal) became a serial killer while watching Dexter from afar.

However, the prequel’s premiere shocked viewers by picking up moments after the Dexter: New Blood series finale, when Dexter was seemingly fatally shot by his son Harrison (Jack Alcott). The beginning of the prequel took place in present day, revealing Dexter was brought back to life by paramedics, setting the stage for his return in Dexter: Resurrection. 

THR first reported this news.