Sarah Michelle Gellar has joined the cast of the upcoming Paramount+ prequel Dexter: Original Sin, with character details revealing that the Emmy-winning actress will play Tanya Martin. She’s the CSI Chief at the Miami Metro Police Department in addition to being Dexter Morgan’s new boss.
Dexter: Original Sin marks Gellar’s return to the Paramount+ fold following her role as the star and executive producer of the one-season supernatural teen drama Wolf Pack, in which she portrayed Kristin Ramsey.
Who joins Sarah Michelle Gellar in Dexter: Original Sin’s cast?
Credited as a special guest star, Gellar joins a notable ensemble that includes Patrick Gibson in the role of a young Dexter Morgan. The ensemble also includes Mr. Robot’s Christian Slater as Dexter’s father, Harry, and Grey’s Anatomy alum Patrick Dempsey in the role of Aaron Spencer. James Martinez as Angel Batista, Christina Milian as Maria LaGuerta, Alex Shimizu as Vince Masuka, and Reno Wilson as Bobby Watt, also star in the prequel.
Production is currently underway on Dexter: Original Sin, which will consist of 10 episodes, and which brings back long-time Dexter writer Clyde Phillips as showrunner. The project is executive produced by Phillips and produced by Showtime Studios and Counterpart Studios. Scott Reynolds also executive produces alongside Hall, Mary Leah Sutton, Tony Hernandez, and Lilly Burns, with Robert Lloyd Lewis producing. Michael Lehmann, meanwhile, serves as directing executive producer.
The prequel, which takes place in 1991, follows the titular character as he becomes an avenging serial killer in Miami. Dexter has to learn to develop a code to deal with his murderous tendencies, under the guidance of his father. This is made more complicated thanks to Dexter’s new job with the Miami Metro Police Department, where he works in forensics.
Gellar is best known for her iconic role as Buffy Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Her other notable credits include Cruel Intentions, the Scooby-Doo movies, The Grudge, and her Emmy-winning turn as Kendall Hart on All My Children. Outside of Buffy, Gellar’s television credits include Ringer and the CBS sitcom The Crazy Ones opposite Robin Williams.
“Sarah Michelle Gellar is a pop culture icon who perfectly rounds out our best-in-class cast featuring Christian Slater and Patrick Dempsey among others,” said Nina L. Diaz, president of content and CCO of Showtime. “We’re thrilled to have her return to the Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios family and join the origin story of the Dexter franchise.”
