Original Sin, Says Showrunner ‘Very Generous’ (...

Michael C

Published Time: 13.12.2024 - 08:31:12 Modified Time: 13.12.2024 - 08:31:12

Michael C. Hall is fully supportive of Dexter: Original Sin, says showrunner Clyde Phillips.

Phillips, 66, who was a showrunner onthe original 2006 crime drama, which ran for eight seasons, told PEOPLE at the prequel's premiere at the SVA Theater in New York on Wednesday, Dec. 11, that having Hall's support was "crucial."

"It's important. It's important to me creatively. It's important to me as his friend. And it's important because I know the impact it will have on the audience," says Phillips.

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"The audience is going to lean forward when they hear his voice, and he's a huge star," he adds of Hall, 53, who is now Original Sins' narrator after playing the original Dexter Morgan. A younger version of the character is played by Patrick Gibson in the show.

Phillips tells PEOPLE that Hall was also on set during the new series' filming and interacted with the new cast, which includesSarah Michelle Gellar,Christina Milian,Patrick DempseyandChristian Slater.

"He came to Comic Con in San Diego," recalls Phillips. "We were sitting with Christian Slater, Molly Brown and Patrick Gibson and then Michael walked out with a box of doughnuts like from the OG show and the place went crazy."

"And then he came back to shoot a little bit of stuff with us and then hung around for a while. And then he became friendly with Patrick Gibson," he adds. "And I suddenly watched Patrick change the way he stands and the way he gestures. Patrick is absorbing Michael Hall and Michael is very generous."

According to a synopsis for the prequel, viewers will follow a younger Dexter as he "transitions from student to avenging serial killer."

"When his bloodthirsty urges ca -

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n’t be ignored any longer, Dexter must learn to channel his inner darkness," the synopsis explains.

"With the guidance of his father, Harry (Slater), he 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," the summary adds. "This is a particular challenge for young Dexter as he begins a forensics internship at the Miami Metro Police Department."

Phillips tells PEOPLE that he considered how the prequel could be presented "respectfully" to the audience when creating it.

"We always want to write up to the audience," he says. "When we first met Dexter in the OG show, he's 35 years old. He's fully formed. He's living with a woman, he knows who he is, he knows what he's doing now."

"Now he’s in his 20s. He's a college senior. He's never kissed a girl," explains Phillips. "He doesn't even know how to hug his own sister. And we're seeing him succumb or embrace my favorite four-letter word, fate. Because he's fated to become this and we get to watch that journey. It's kind of a behind-the-scenes look at how a serial killer is developed."

Phillips served as showrunner on the first four seasons of Dexter, which was based on Jeff Lindsay's novels. He returned to the franchise to oversee the miniseries Dexter: New Blood and serves as Original Sins' showrunner.

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Dexter: Original Sin, premieres on Paramount+ with Showtime on Friday, Dec. 13.