Clyde Phillips

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Lore & Background

Clyde Phillips was the original showrunner for *Dexter* (2006–2013) and returned to create the prequel *Dexter: Original Sin*. On February 6, 2023, Showtime gave production a series order for an origin-story prequel titled *Dexter: Origins*, later retitled *Dexter: Original Sin*, consisting of 10 episodes. Phillips served as showrunner and executive producer. In March 2025, when asked about a second season, Phillips stated he was busy shooting *Resurrection* and hadn't been thinking about the next season of *Original Sin*. Cast member Patrick Gibson expressed openness to return, saying: "I had such a great time doing this and everybody involved is so incredible. To have Clyde [Phillips], the original showrunner, involved and still doing it, and the cast was also great that I would feel so, so lucky to come back again." On April 1, 2025, reports emerged that the series had been renewed for a second season, but on August 22, 2025, *Dexter: Original Sin* was canceled prior to production on a second season commencing.

In Their Own Story

The fluorescent lights of the writers' room hummed as Clyde Phillips mapped out the 10-episode arc for *Dexter: Original Sin*. He had brought back Michael C. Hall to narrate the inner voice of young Dexter, and cast Patrick Gibson as the forensic intern at Miami Metro Police Department. The series premiered on December 13, 2024, on Paramount+ with Showtime, becoming Showtime's most streamed premiere with over 2.1 million global cross-platform viewers. But by August 22, 2025, the show was canceled before a second season could begin production, leaving Phillips to focus on shooting *Resurrection*.

Reader's Guide

Clyde Phillips created *Dexter: Original Sin* as a prequel set in 1991, fifteen years before the first season of *Dexter*. The series follows a young Dexter Morgan as a forensic intern at Miami Metro Police Department, with his adoptive father Harry Morgan (played by Christian Slater) guiding him. The frame story sees adult Dexter (voiced by Michael C. Hall) thinking back on his youth. Phillips assembled a main cast including Patrick Gibson, Christian Slater, Molly Brown, Christina Milian, James Martinez, Alex Shimizu, Reno Wilson, Patrick Dempsey, and Michael C. Hall as narrator. Sarah Michelle Gellar joined as a special guest star. The series received a 70% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 20 critic reviews, with the critics consensus reading: "Original Sin cares less about injecting fresh blood than reviving a tried-and-true formula, making for a prequel that's just solid enough to scratch the Dexter itch with a scalpel." Metacritic calculated a weighted average of 50 out of 100 based on six critic reviews, indicating a "mixed or average" response.

Did You Know?

• Clyde Phillips created *Dexter: Original Sin* as a prequel set in 1991, fifteen years before the first season of *Dexter*.
• The series was originally titled *Dexter: Origins* before being retitled *Dexter: Original Sin*.
• Phillips was busy shooting *Resurrection* when asked about a potential second season in March 2025.
• Despite reports of a renewal on April 1, 2025, the series was canceled on August 22, 2025, before a second season could begin production.
• The series became Showtime's most streamed premiere with over 2.1 million global cross-platform viewers.