Dexter showrunner Scott Buck is staying in business with Showtime. At TCA today, the pay cable network announced that it has signed a rare overall deal with Buck for new projects as Dexter is wrapping its eight-season run. “We made the deal to keep him in the family,” Showtime’s entertainment president David Nevins said. He later hinted at what Buck may be tackling under his overall deal. Asked whether a Dexter spinoff is still in the works, Nevins responded, “Of course. We just signed a deal with Scott Buck, draw your conclusions.”

After the session, Nevins clarified that “there is nothing actually happening” on a spinoff and no options on cast members have been extended. A follow-up series won’t necessarily be a spinoff. “All options will be explored,” Nevins said. “We’re really not dealing with it at all until we’re through this season and maybe a while thereafter.” He later added to confusion with, “I don’t know that there will ever be a spinoff. It could well never happen.”