Patrick Dempsey Says He's 'Truly Grateful' to Work onDexterPrequel Series with His Famous Costars (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Patrick Dempsey in February 2024.Photo:James Gourley/Getty

James Gourley/Getty

Patrick Dempseyis loving working on his latest television project.

While chatting exclusively with PEOPLE about his partnership withPfizerand theAmerican Cancer Societyfor theirChange the Odds initiative, the actor opened up about his forthcoming project,Dexter: Original Sin,and working with costars, includingSarah Michelle GellarandChristian Slater.

“It’s going great. … I’ve had a great time working on it,” Dempsey, 58, says of theDexterprequel series set to premiere on Paramount+ and Showtime in December. “The culture within the filming itself has been one of great celebration, joy and fun.”

“I think coming out of the[2023 actors and writers] strike, we’re all truly grateful that we have employment, because the business hasn’t really come back to where it was before,” he continues. “I’m just really grateful to have a job, and I’m really enjoying it. We’ve been in the business long enough now, over 30 years, where we really appreciate it and look at it differently.”

“It is an ensemble, so we all have our days where we’re carrying the workload, and then we have some time off to balance our life,” adds theGrey’s Anatomyalum. “It’s a wonderful, really safe, creative environment, and Clyde Phillips, our creator, has created a beautiful culture for us to work in that’s really collaborative.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Patrick Dempsey, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Christian Slater.Stefanie Keenan/WireImage; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Eric Charbonneau/Getty

Stefanie Keenan/WireImage; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Eric Charbonneau/Getty

Dexter: Original Sincomes after the eight-season run ofDexter, originally starringMichael C. Hallas the titular serial killer andJennifer Carpenter, ran from 2006 to 2013 and its 2021 follow-up miniseries,Dexter: New Blood.

According to Paramount+ with Showtime, the forthcoming prequel, which starsPatrick Gibsonas a younger Dexter Morgan and is set in 1991, will follow the iconic character as he “transitions from student to avenging serial killer.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Dempsey plays Miami Metro Homicide Captain Aaron Spencer and Gellar, 47, portrays Tanya Martin, the CSI chief at the Miami Metro Police Department and Dexter’s new boss at a forensics internship. Slater, 55, meanwhile, stars as Dexter’s father, Harry.

Patrick Dempsey in ‘Dexter: Original Sin.'.Patrick Wymore/Paramount+ with Showtime

Patrick Wymore/Paramount+ with Showtime

Last month, Gellar shared abehind-the-scenes image from the set ofDexter: Original Sin, in which she and Dempsey could be seen on set in their costumes.

“The crossover you didn’t know you needed (#McBuff?!?),” Gellar captioned thepost, referencing their past hit shows. (Gellar playedBuffy SummersonBuffy the Vampire Slayer, which ran for seven seasons from 1997 to 2003, while Dempsey starred asDr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepherdin thefirst 11 seasonsofGrey’s Anatomyfrom 2005 to 2015.)

Several fans also called out the duo’s appearances in theScreamfranchise. “I would sayScream 2meetsScream 3♥︎,” commented one user, referring to how Gellar appeared as Cici Cooper inScream 2(1997), while Dempsey played Detective Mark Kincaid inScream 3(2000).

Dexter: Original Sinpremieres on Paramount+ with Showtime on Friday, Dec. 13, and then makes its on-air premiere on Showtime in the U.S. on Sunday, Dec. 15.

source: people.com