Michael C. Hall (Dexter) is sticking with Showtime, though it will be in a primarily behind-the-scenes role.  Hall will take on the title of executive producer for a new series based on the Matthew Specktor novel, American Dream Machine.  Set in Hollywood but fluctuating between the 1970s and modern times, the story centers on talent agents and their troubled sons.  If the project moves forward to pilot, Hall may be eyeing a small role but will focus mostly on his off-camera duties.  Dexter showrunner Scott Buck will supervise the script, also written by Specktor.  Hit the jump for more.

Howling fans of intrigue and murder packed Ballroom 20 today for a Showtime’s combo Homeland/Dexter panel.  We learned a new locale for Homeland, the dramatic thriller concerning a CIA officer (Claire Danes) and a soldier returning from enemy captivity who may be a threat to the U.S. (Damian Lewis).  And we also met a new face for Dexter.  The show, which will be entering its seventh season this fall, stars Michael C. Hall as the fan-favorite killer with a conscience.  Read more about terrorists and serial killers after the jump.

Comic Con 2011: At the Showtime Preview Panel, Michael C. Hall and company talked up the 6^th season of Dexter; William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum and John Wells teased the second season of Shameless; Morena Baccarin and Howard Shore discussed their new show Homeland. For all this, plus new trailers for Dexter and Homeland, hit the jump.

Although they’ve never worked together before on a movie, David Fincher and Charlize Theron are teaming up to create a new drama series called Mind Hunter for HBO.  The show revolves around the investigation of serial killers (original!) and is based off John Douglas and Mark Olshaker’s book Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit.  According to Variety, “The book recounts Douglas’ experiences as a top FBI investigator of serial killers and rapists, and the profiling techniques he developed.”  I wonder if Douglas goes out to dinner, looks at a guy at another table and thinks, “Yep, that guy’s a rapist.”  Or does profiling not work that way?

Scott Buck will write the script, which is a good choice since Buck is an executive producer on Dexter.  Theron, Fincher, Buck will executive produce along with Jennifer Orme Erwin who was the one who brought the book to Theron’s attention.

Theron is set to co-star in George Miller’s upcoming Mad Max movie, Fury Road, which is scheduled to begin filming this summer in Australia.  Fincher is currently at work on the “Facebook-movie”, The Social Network, which is about the founding of the popular website.