Showtime hints at Dexter spin-off

CBS-owned cablenet Showtime has prompted talk of a spin-off for its crime drama Dexter by signing a two-year deal with showrunner Scott Buck.

Dexter has entered its eighth and final season, with Buck now set to work on a variety of projects for Showtime, including supervising the script for Matthew Specktor’s novel American Dream Machine.

David Nevins, president of entertainment at Showtime Networks, said: “For the last seven seasons, Scott has helped shepherd Dexter, the most valuable and lucrative franchise we have ever had. We really wanted to remain in business with Scott and we are looking forward to getting to work with him on a number of new projects.”

In response to a question at the Television Critics’ Association Summer press tour regarding a Dexter spin-off, Nevins was reported to have said: “Draw your own conclusions.”

Showtime has also greenlit a pilot of Trending Down, which will star and be exec produced by Phillip Seymour Hoffman. The 30-minute dark comedy, which will begin filming in the fall, explores youth culture and follows the life of a man who has his advertising agency taken over.

It will be executive produced by author and This American Life contributor Shalom Auslander and will be produced by In Cahoots and Cooper’s Town Productions.

“We are taking a markedly unconventional approach to process and content – a cross between the BBC series model and a theatre workshop. And a meth lab,” said Auslander.

Showtime has also picked up documentary Time of Death, produced by Magical Elves and slated it for a fall premiere. The six-episode show, which is in post-production, follows the lives of terminally ill people and the carers, family and friends who support them.

Nevins added: “This is not an easy show but it is a subject I’ve always wanted to be able to explore in detail. And I know it will make for a powerful and compelling viewing experience.”

The network has also confirmed that its ongoing dramas Episodes, House of Lies and Shameless will return on January 12 to make up Showtime’s Sunday primetime viewing block.