Dexter Season Premiere Date: Announced! Early!

Showtime President David Nevins delivered surprising news today at the Television Critics Association winter press tour:

Dexter Season 8 will premiere three months earlier than usual, on Sunday June 30, leading into the network's new drama, Ray Donovan.

Although unconfirmed today by Nevins, the eighth season is expected to represent the final run of this long-running hit. It will be comprised of 12 episodes and showrunner Scott Buck has teased that it will focus on the relationship between Deb and Dexter.

No surprise considering the events that concluded Dexter Season 7.

Casting calls have also gone out for two recurring characters: a private investigator and a psychiatrist who profiles criminals.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.