Despite having different schedules, Dexter's upcoming shows already have the ideal crossover potential.
Surprisingly, the Dexter series is well-positioned for interactions between its two ongoing projects—a prequel and a sequel show.
Dexter: The Original Sin & Dexter: The Resurrection Easily Transcend Each Other
It's not always possible for shows situated in the same universe to interact significantly. For instance, there was only a point at which Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad could truly converge—that is, when the plots of both shows approached each other. Because Original Sin and Resurrection both contain the same main character—albeit portrayed by different actors in each project—they are significantly less constrained than some other shared-universe TV series that are situated so distantly apart.
Important events from Resurrection will eventually impact the events of Original Sin, and those events may be revisited in the latter chapter. Michael C. Hall will not be reprising his role as Dexter Morgan in Original Sin, but he will be doing the narration. Patrick Gibson will play the part. Hall's significant involvement in both the prequel and the sequel gives both series plenty of chances to delve into different eras of Dexter's existence. Important events from Resurrection will eventually impact the events of Original Sin, and those events may be revisited in the latter chapter.
With the new actors from the prequel, Dexter: Resurrection may recreate the flashbacks from the original show.
Some of the flashbacks in the first Dexter were notorious because they showed the stars of the show as much younger versions of themselves. Michael C. Hall's wig made him look like he was in his early twenties, but the whole effect was more comedic than serious. Dexter: Resurrection can feature flashbacks to the same eras that Dexter glimpsed, thus it can make up for this humorous shortcoming. Fortunately, the new cast members who were added for Original Sin may now play the characters' younger selves in the franchise.
In order to lessen the impact on the canon of the franchise, Resurrection might either skip reproducing the original flashbacks or replace them with identical scenes starring actors who are more suited for the role. An extra perk would be that the performers would be involved with Original Sin. Additionally, there's a chance that Resurrection will reveal even more details about Dexter Morgan's past—possibly even events that weren't included in Original Sin. On the other hand, such flashforwards in Original Sin might enable a more in-depth examination of significant or overlooked events during the Resurrection period.
Only if the conclusion of New Blood is retconned can Dexter's crossovers work.
Possible crossovers between the next Dexter episodes are contingent upon the occurrence of a particular event, which would then permit the aforementioned back-and-forth. To put it simply, the events of New Blood must have been survived by Dexter Morgan, which probably implies rewriting the show's conclusion. In the New Blood finale, Dex is seen lying in a pool of his own blood with a bullet in his chest, proving that even if he is extraordinarily resourceful, he is mortal. It will therefore take the writers of Resurrection to work their magic to figure out how he survived.
The most likely scenario, assuming Dexter's New Blood outcome stays the same, is that Harrison will take center stage and Michael C. Hall would portray a ghost that his son alone sees, much like Jennifer Carpenter's Deb did in New Blood. Should this be the case, Harrison won't be able to recall his father's college years, and the flashbacks to Original Sin won't function because it won't be the real Dexter. Similarly, if the main character of the Dexter franchise is dead, Hall's narration in Dexter: Original Sin cannot cause a flashforward to Resurrection.
