Spinoffs of “Billions” and “Dexter” are being planned at Showtime as the premium cabler rebrands to Paramount+ With Showtime and reconfigures its programming.
“Dexter,” which ran from 2006 to 2013 and followed forensic technician and serial killer Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), is first on the docket for expansion. Showtime has already greenlit “Dexter: Origins” (working title), a prequel following a young Dexter at the outset of his transition into the avenging serial killer he would become. The series will see him graduate college to join Miami Metro, where he meets younger versions of various “Dexter” characters, while also depicting his family, including an alive Harry (James Remar in the original series) and a formidable teenage Deb (Jennifer Carpenter in the original series).
Despite that revival “Dexter: New Blood” was billed as a limited series when it premiered in 2021, giving “Dexter” a new ending after the much-hated series finale, Showtime is now developing a new installation of the sequel. If greenlit, the follow-up to “New Blood” will focus on Dexter’s son, Harrison (Jack Alcott), who survived his tumultuous reintroduction with his father and flees to New York City where he must wrestle with his own violent nature and whether, like his father, he too is compelled to kill.
Spinoffs based on other “Dexter” characters such as the Trinity Killer (John Lithgow in the original series) are also being considered.
“The ‘Dexter’ saga has been an undeniable creative and popular success for Showtime, both in its original, groundbreaking form and the record-setting ‘Dexter: New Blood,’” said Chris McCarthy, president and CEO of Showtime and Paramount Media Networks. “The series is a rich foundation for other shows in the lane of complex, subversive antiheroes that Showtime has always done so brilliantly. Clyde is deep into compelling stories and characters that will satisfy the cravings of our multifaceted audience.”
Up to four series are in the works based on “Billions,” the financial drama series that premiered in 2016 and is currently airing its sixth season. “Billions: Miami” (working title) is being developed as a new installment set in the world of private aviation, where the clientele believe the rules of society, government and gravity don’t apply to them, amidst the wealth, nightlife, contraband and cryptocurrency that pulse through the city.
Also in development are “Billions: London,” set in the world of U.K. finance; “Millions,” featuring diverse, 30-something, financial mogul wannabes in Manhattan; and “Trillions,” based on fictional stories of the richest people in the world — titans of industry living all over the country but coming into contact and conflict with one another. (All are working titles.)
“We remain fascinated by people whose ambition is boundless and who think the laws of civilization and nature don’t apply to them,” said showrunners Brian Koppelman and David Levien. “Miami is a vital and vibrant place the super-rich have begun taking over. We’re excited to show everyone what’s really going on down there.”
The news comes amid a major shift for the Showtime brand. Paramount CEO Bob Bakish announced last week thatShowtime’s cable network would be renamed to Paramount+ With Showtime while its streaming service would collapse into Paramount+. The consolidation also came with the cancellation and erasure from streaming for multiple series that Paramount deemed underperformers, including “American Gigolo” and “Let the Right One In,” as well as “Three Women,” which was completed and set to premiere in 2023.
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