Dexter Returns: The Serial Killer Saga Continues with a New Spinoff

In mid-May, inside a trailer near a Long Island hotel, set costumer Kat St. John carefully sprayed a bloodstained gray collared shirt with fresh fake blood. The stains had dried between filming days, requiring touch-ups.

“We need to add new blood,” she explained as she worked.

This scene was part of the production of “Dexter: Resurrection,” the latest chapter in the Showtime franchise centered on Dexter Morgan, the vigilante serial killer portrayed by Michael C. Hall. The original series aired from 2006 to 2013, followed by “Dexter: New Blood” in 2021. A prequel, “Dexter: Original Sin,” debuted in 2024 and has been renewed for another season.

Although “New Blood” left Dexter in a dire situation, “Resurrection,” premiering July 11 on Paramount+ and Showtime, brings the character back to the screen. His survival might seem improbable, yet the current television landscape’s obsession with reboots, sequels, and spinoffs makes such returns increasingly common.

While the overall number of new scripted series has decreased compared to previous years, the drive to expand existing franchises has intensified. Previously, franchise extensions were mostly limited to procedural dramas, unscripted shows, and select series like “Star Trek.” Now, even high-profile dramas are embracing world-building and multiple spinoffs.

Once, a single “Dexter” reboot or spinoff might have sufficed. Today, having three separate series set in the same universe is becoming the norm rather than the exception.