Showtime executive Chris McCarthy, credited with helping grow Taylor Sheridan’s “Yellowstone” into the mega-franchise it is, is helping the premium cable network double down on its own franchise plans.
As a result, multiple offshoots of both “Dexter” and “Billions” are in the works with as many as six new series based on the properties on the way. In addition, the network has shot down reports of the cancellation of the “Dexter: New Blood” revival series.
The “Billions” franchise has four new series currently in development beyond the flagship series -“Millions,” “Trillions,” “Billions: London” and “Billions: Miami”.
“Billions: London” unfolds in the world of U.K. finance, “Billions: Miami” is set in the world of Florida private aviation, “Millions” will follow diverse thirtysomething financial mogul wannabes trying to make it in Manhattan, and “Trillions” will be based on fictional stories of the richest people in the world. “Billions” executive producers Brian Koppelman and David Levien are attached to all four.
With “Dexter” there’s a more straightforward prequel “Dexter: Origins” which has been ordered straight-to-series. That will tell the origin story of Michael C. Hall’s serial killer character as a young Dexter Morgan joins Miami Metro whilst Harry is still alive and Deb is a teenager.
Also coming is both a ‘new version’ of “Dexter: New Blood” to depict the ongoing emergence of Dexter’s son Harrison who has now fled to New York City, and a potential spin-off on the back story of John Lithgow’s memorable fourth season antagonist the Trinity Killer.
“Dexter” creator Clyde Phillips, who served as showrunner on the first four seasons of the original series, will oversee the franchise for Showtime who will own all of the “Dexter” and “Billions” offshoots.
The projects come as Showtime cancelled multiple under-performing originals for them last week including the “American Gigolo” and “Let the Right One In” reimaginings.
Source: THR
