Twenty years after Dexter Morgan first appeared on Showtime, the franchise is still going strong. Dexter: Resurrection returns for its second season on Paramount+ on Friday 30 October 2026, with Michael C. Hall back in the lead and Brian Cox and Dan Stevens joining the cast.
From Miami to Iron Lake, 1991 and New York, here is our fan's guide to the seasons, cast and awards. Browse more of our tribute designs in the TV Series collection.
Dexter Fact File
| Original run | 1 October 2006 – 22 September 2013 |
|---|---|
| Developed by | James Manos Jr., from Jeff Lindsay's novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter |
| Network | Showtime; later series on Paramount+ with Showtime |
| Main cast | Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, James Remar, David Zayas, C. S. Lee, Desmond Harrington |
| Seasons/episodes | 8 seasons, 96 episodes (original series) |
| Setting | Miami, Florida; later upstate New York and New York City |
Seasons
| Season/Year | Episodes | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Seasons 1–4 (2006–2009) | 48 | Clyde Phillips era; season one adapts Lindsay's novel; season four brings Golden Globes |
| Season 5 (2010) | 12 | Chip Johannessen runs the show; Julia Stiles earns a Globe nomination |
| Seasons 6–8 (2011–2013) | 36 | Scott Buck era; the original run ends in September 2013 |
| New Blood (2021–2022) | 10 | Limited series set in Iron Lake, New York |
| Original Sin (2024–2025) | 10 | Prequel set in 1991 Miami |
| Resurrection S1 (2025) | 10 | Dexter heads to New York City |
| Resurrection S2 (2026) | TBC | Premieres 30 October 2026 |
Each original season had 12 episodes (96 in total); each follow-up ran for ten, and the Resurrection season two count is not yet confirmed.
From Page to Screen in Miami
Developed by James Manos Jr., who also wrote the pilot, Dexter drew its first season from Jeff Lindsay's 2004 novel. Michael C. Hall played Dexter Morgan, a forensics expert with Miami Metro who hides a dark double life and targets other killers. Jennifer Carpenter co-starred as his sister Debra, with James Remar as their father, Harry.
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New Blood in Iron Lake
Clyde Phillips returned to run Dexter: New Blood, a ten-episode limited series that aired on Showtime from 7 November 2021 to 9 January 2022. It picks up about ten years after the original finale, with Dexter living quietly under a new name in the fictional town of Iron Lake in upstate New York. Jack Alcott joined as his son Harrison, alongside Julia Jones, Clancy Brown and a returning Jennifer Carpenter.
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Back to 1991: Original Sin
The prequel Dexter: Original Sin arrived on Paramount+ with Showtime in December 2024 and ran until February 2025. Patrick Gibson played a young Dexter starting out as a forensic intern, Christian Slater took on the role of Harry, and Hall voiced Dexter's inner monologue. Although a second season was announced in April 2025, Paramount reversed that decision in August 2025 to focus on Resurrection.
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Resurrection in New York
Dexter: Resurrection premiered on 11 July 2025 and ran for ten episodes until 5 September 2025, following Dexter to New York City in search of Harrison. Uma Thurman and Peter Dinklage joined the cast, and Showtime renewed the series on 8 October 2025. Season two adds Brian Cox, Dan Stevens and Nona Parker Johnson, with Desmond Harrington now a series regular.
Awards
Golden Globes
- 2010: Michael C. Hall, Best Actor in a Television Series, Drama
- 2010: John Lithgow, Best Supporting Actor for season four
- Ten nominations in total, including Best Television Series, Drama
Peabody Award
- 2007: Peabody Award for the Showtime series
Emmy Awards
- 24 Primetime Emmy nominations for the original series
- Outstanding Drama Series nominee four years running (2008–2011)
Behind the Scenes
Although the original series is set in Miami, much of it was filmed in Los Angeles and Long Beach, California. New Blood used Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, as Iron Lake, while Resurrection films in New York City, with season two based at Sunset Pier 94 Studios in Manhattan. The original series' opening title theme was written by Rolfe Kent, with the score composed by Daniel Licht.
FAQs
How many seasons of Dexter are there?
Eight original seasons (96 episodes), plus New Blood, Original Sin and Resurrection.
When does Dexter: Resurrection season 2 come out?
It premieres on Paramount+ on Friday 30 October 2026.
Is Dexter based on a book?
Yes. The first season is based on Jeff Lindsay's 2004 novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter.
Where was Dexter filmed?
The original series was mostly filmed in Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, despite its Miami setting.
Was Dexter: Original Sin cancelled?
Yes. Paramount cancelled it in August 2025 after one season of ten episodes.
Who plays Dexter Morgan?
Michael C. Hall plays Dexter, while Patrick Gibson played the younger version in Original Sin.
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Dexter Men's Hoodie
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Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Breaking Bad: Seasons, Cast, Emmys and the Story So Far and The Walking Dead: Seasons, Cast, Spin-offs and Legacy.
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