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#‘Dexter,’ ‘Billions’ Spinoffs in the Works as Showtime Doubles Down on Franchise Plan

‘Dexter,’ ‘Billions’ Spinoffs in the Works as Showtime Doubles Down on Franchise Plan

Chris McCarthy, the Paramount Global exec who was handed oversight of Showtime last year, is doubling down on his franchise plans for the premium cable network.

The exec who is credited with growing Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone franchise for the streamer is expanding two of Showtime’s prized dramas — Dexter and Billions — with multiple offshoots in the works, sources confirm to The Hollywood Reporter.

According to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news, the linear cable network is developing as many as four series connected to the Billions franchises — including Millions and Trillions — from exec producers Brian Koppelman and David Levien. The Billions co-creators have been in business with an overall deal at Showtime since 2019 and the finance drama now ranks as the cabler’s longest-running scripted original series.

As for Dexter, McCarthy has ordered a prequel series that will tell the origin story of Michael C. Hall’s serial killer drama that first bowed on Showtime in 2006 and was part of a wave of anti-heroes that captivated viewers. Showtime revived Dexter with a sequel series, New Blood, that helped repair the legacy of the series after its original finale was widely considered one of the worst in television history. New Blood went on to become a ratings and streaming success for Showtime. Also as part of the larger plan to lean into the Dexter franchise, Showtime is also exploring other spinoffs that trace the back stories of some of the show’s most iconic characters. This includes John Lithgow’s memorable Trinity Killer. Dexter creator Clyde Phillips, who was behind New Blood and served as showrunner on the first four seasons (which included the Trinity one), will oversee the franchise for Showtime.

McCarthy previewed his franchise strategy late last month when he confirmed the long-rumored merger of Showtime with Paramount+. “We have already begun conversations with our production partners about what content makes sense moving forward and which shows have franchise potential,” he said.

What’s also compelling here is that Showtime will own all of its Dexter and Billions offshoots as McCarthy leans into proven hits and cancels under-performing originals including reboots of American Gigolo and Let the Right One In and yanks more than 20 library titles, including the first season of Koppelman’s anthology, Super Pumped. The effort is part of a larger plan to add scale to Paramount+ as Paramount Global looks to compete with Netflix, Disney+ and the recently merged Warner Bros. Discovery, among other conglomerates.

The ownership tidbit is also compelling given that Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa’s drama Homeland was one of Showtime’s most important programs. That show, however, is owned by Disney’s 20th Television following the Mouse House’s $73 billion deal to buy Fox assets including its TV studio. Rather than revisiting Homeland and paying a licensing fee, Showtime on Monday announced a straight to series order for the similarly themed political thriller The Department, which counts George Clooney as an exec producer and director. The series is based on the popular French drama and will be produced by Clooney and Grant Heslov’s Smokehouse Pictures and MTV Entertainment Studios. The latter studio is also behind all of Sheridan’s shows, including the Yellowstone franchise.

The Department, based on the riveting and brilliant series The Bureau, will follow in the great tradition of Homeland, one of the most successful and brand-defining shows at Showtime,” said McCarthy, CEO of Showtime and Paramount Media, in a statement. “Just as Homeland elevated global espionage to new heights, The Department will take viewers even deeper into a world of intrigue and subterfuge with complicated characters who struggle with their own demons as they fight existential threats to the nation and the world.” Production is expected to begin this year but a writer/showrunner for the drama has not yet been announced.

Showtime’s scripted roster includes Yellowjackets, the upcoming Emma Stone comedy The Curse and The Chi. It’s unclear if the planned Mr. Ripley series will air on the cabler or be shopped alongside Three Women, the latter of which McCarthy dropped last week. Still on the bubble are I Love That For You, The L Word: Generation Q and the Ziwe variety show.

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