‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Trailer Follows the Bay Harbor Butcher in Training

The trailer for Dexter: Original Sin opens with Michael C. Hall, the star of the first Showtime series, laying in the snow, dying, and declaring: “It really is like they say. Your life flashes before your eyes.”

While some might see this narrative trick as an attempt to make up for the original broadcast’s fuddled finale, the fading Dexter does seem to be making an earnest attempt to reconcile his past as he continues to contemplate: “In the beginning there was blood and a code I learned from my father. It was simple: ‘Kill the bad guys to escape justice, don’t get caught myself.'”

The ever-brooding serial killer proceeds to play a reel of flashbacks in his head, showing glimpses of his early days at the Miami Metro Police Department, with Patrick Gibson starring as the budding forensic analyst/murderer. Younger versions of characters are also teased in the clip, including Dexter’s adoptive father Harry (Christian Slater), his sister Debra (Molly Brown), Maria LaGuerta (Christina Milian), Angel Batista (James Martinez), and Vince Masuka (Alex Shimizu). There’s also a guest starring role played by Sarah Michelle Gellar.

The 10-episode drama series is set to roll out Dec. 13 for Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers, before before debuting on the Showtime cable channel on Dec. 15.

According to a synopsis of the prequel, the show is set in 1991 and follows Dexter “as he transitions from student to avenging serial killer. When his bloodthirsty urges can’t be ignored any longer, Dexter must learn to channel his inner darkness.” It adds that with the guidance of Harry, Dexter “adopts a Code designed to help him find and kill people who deserve to be eliminated from society without getting on law enforcement’s radar. This is a particular challenge for young Dexter as he begins a forensics internship at the Miami Metro Police Department.”

The new project is executive produced by Clyde Phillips, Scott Reynolds, Hall, Mary Leah Sutton, Tony Hernandez, and Lilly Burns, while Robert Lloyd Lewis serves as producer and Michael Lehmann as directing executive producer. Showtime Studios and Counterpart Studios also produce.