Original Sin Showrunner Clyde Phillips Explains His Thirst to Expand the Dexter Universe

Almost two decades after Dexter Morgan made his television debut, the character's origins are revealed in Dexter: Original Sin. The new prequel series is set in 1991, fifteen years before the original show, and follows 20-year-old Dexter, now played by Patrick Gibson (OA, Shadow and Bone), while committing his first murders and learning to fit in among Miami's less psychopathic inhabitants. Although the cast is made up of new actors playing familiar roles from the classic series, Michael C. Hall appears in the pilot and narrates the series.

Like the original series and Dexter: New Blood before that, Original sin is directed by showrunner Clyde Phillips. In addition to Original sinPhillips is also responsible for the upcoming Dexter: Resurrectiona sequel to the series that sees Michael C. Hall return as a full-time protagonist. Between Original sin and Resurrectionaudiences will be more than satisfied with Dexter, from his murderous origins to his uncertain future.

TelaRant interviewed Clyde Phillips about his work at Dexter universe, since the divisive end of Dexter: New Blood to the decision to create several new Dexter shows simultaneously. He explained why the decision was made to kill Dexter in New bloodand why they brought him back to life to the aptly named Resurrection. Finally, he talked about the prequel nature of Original sinwhich shows Dexter at a point in his life where he hasn't fully learned how to hide in plain sight.

Dexter: Original Sin Showrunner Clyde Phillips on the Ever-Expanding Dexter Universe

“They’re starting to call it “The Dexterverse”

ScreenRant: Hello! I'm excited to talk to you. It's a new generation of Dexterliterally, in the case of this show. But you do, it's Dexterpalooza! We took Dexter out of his madness, we got Dexter: Resurrection and Dexter: Original Sinwhich is a “year zero” type thing.

Clyde Phillips: Yeah, they're starting to call it “The Dexterverse.”

The Dexterverse… Can we do Dexterpalooza?

Clyde Phillips: Of course. We will go with you.

Forgive me. But first of all, tell me a little bit about, you know, the reception of the previous series, the previous revival, you know, The New Blood, and how that led to this Dexterverse, you know?

Clyde Phillips: Of course… Well, if you're talking about the reception, are you talking about everyone hating the ending? Is that what you're talking about?

Dexter Showrunner on Controversial Decision to Kill Dexter and Now Bring Him Back

“At that time, I only had Michael C. Hall for a year, so I had to end the show.”

Well, I mean, I think they had a thoughtful response to the original ending, and then you came in and said, “Okay, let's do it again.”

Clyde Phillips: Not entirely me. It's with Paramount and Showtime. The way New Blood worked is what I wanted to tell social media because… They went crazy when Dexter was shot, which just showed me how much they loved the character and loved the show. But at that time, I only had Michael C. Hall for a year, so I had to end the show. And then I discovered that the finale, which I had the privilege of writing, was the most-watched episode in Showtime history. And Showtime immediately ordered a sequel, for which I got my writers back together.

We wrote all 10 episodes, and that was for Showtime and Gary Levine, the president of Showtime. And then Chris McCarthy from MTV Entertainment and Paramount came out and said… He's a Yellowstone guy, so 1883 and 1923, all of which I've seen and loved, he says, “I don't believe in sequels. I want to do a prequel. You Can you create a prequel?” And that's what I did. I presented it to him and Gary, and then Chris said four words at the end of the presentation: “Phenomenal. I loved it.” And the next thing I know, I've got my writers back together and we're releasing the prequel, which is Original Sin.

But Resurrection is still advancing. Are they the same scripts you wrote last time or many years ago?

Clyde Phillips: No, no. The resurrection is different.

It's a totally new thing.

Clyde Phillips: It's a whole new show. Michael Hall called me and said, you know what? I have Dexter in my bones. Clyde, you have Dexter in your bones. Let's continue. Can you find out? How could I have survived what happened at the end? So my team and I figured it out and presented it to Michael. He loved it. I presented for Showtime and Paramount. They won't say no to that. I mean, it's their biggest show! And we'll start filming that in a month. So while we were filming Original Sin, we were writing Resurrection.

Is there synergy between the shows? Can you make a kind of connection between them, or are they separate entities?

Clyde Phillips: Besides the fact that Dexter is who he is, they are separate entities.

Clyde Phillips on the Quasi-Reboot Nature of Dexter: Original Sin

“He’s 20 years old, a college student, socially awkward, has never kissed a girl, doesn’t know how to hug his own sister.”

And this show is, in some ways, a reboot of sorts, because it recasts everyone, they're younger versions of themselves. Can you tell me a little bit about bringing back that energy from the first season of Dexter, kind of learning who he is, only this time he's learning who he is?

Clyde Phillips: That's a great point. Because when we first see Dexter in the OG series, he's 35 years old and fully developed as a serial killer. Right? Now we meet him in Original Sin, he's 20 years old, he's a university student, he's socially awkward, he's never kissed a girl, he doesn't know how to hug his own sister. And he needs to learn how to blend in and be part of the world. However, he is doomed to be a serial killer. And that's the inevitable part of her journey that the audience is familiar with, and they get to see that baby grow up. I mean, again, he's a college student.

I mean, when we meet the original Dexter, he's living with a woman and she has two kids and he might as well play. Here, this guy, Patrick Gibson, young Dexter, has no idea how to play and we can see it happen. Also, we get to see Harry, played by Christian Slater, thank God, being alive and being a father and having influence over his son and having memories of the parts of 1973 when he was with Dexter's mother. And even before that, the pool scene. This is truly a very moving and transformative scene, a moment in someone's life. And all of this builds character. All of this helps actors build their own characters.

Well, thank you very much. It's really hard to get a prequel right, but after seeing the first three episodes, you've nailed it, man.

Clyde Phillips: Oh, thanks. This is so cool. What a great way to end it. Thank you very much!

More about Dexter: Original Sin (2024)

New episodes every Friday on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME

Set in 1991 Miami, DEXTER: ORIGINAL SIN follows Dexter (Patrick Gibson) as he transitions from student to avenging serial killer. When his bloodthirsty urges can no longer be ignored, Dexter must learn to channel his inner darkness. With guidance from his father, Harry (Christian Slater), he adopts a Code designed to help him find and kill people who deserve to be eliminated from society without getting on the authorities' radar. This is a particular challenge for young Dexter as he begins a forensic internship at the Miami Metropolitan Police Department.

Check back soon for our others Dexter: Original Sin interviews here:

• Christina Milian and Reno Wilson

• Alex Shimizu and James Martinez

Source: Screen Rant Plus