‘Dexter,’ ‘Billions’ Spinoffs in the Works as Showtime eases into Paramount+

Chris McCarthy, the Paramount Global exec who was given the reigns of Showtime last year, is laying down the marker with the branching out of the cable network’s most storied shows – Billions and Dexter.

The cable network is developing as many as four series connected to the Billions franchise — including Millions and Trillions. The Billions co-creators have been in talks with an overall deal at Showtime since 2019, and the finance drama now ranks as the cable’s longest-running scripted original series.

“Dexter,” which ran from 2006 to 2013 and followed forensic technician and serial killer Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), is first in line for the expansion. “Dexter: Origins” (working title), a prequel following a young Dexter at the outset of his transition into the avenging serial killer he would become, has already been given the green light by Showtime.

The news comes amid a major shift for the Showtime brand. Paramount CEO Bob Bakish announced last week that Showtime’s cable network would be renamed to Paramount+.The programming plans for the Showtime brand emerge following the recent cost-cutting move at the network, which included the cancellations of American Gigolo and Let the Right One In after one season and the decision not to go forward with the completed new series Three Women, which is being shopped.