As comic books and fantasy have become more central to the culture, author Neil Gaiman has become one of its most popular and prolific figures. His novels “Stardust,” “Coraline,” “American Gods,” and “Good Omens” have all been adapted into successful film and TV projects. But the comic book series that many fans consider his most famous work has remained conspicuously absent from the screen.
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Now, at long last, a television adaptation of “The Sandman” will come to life on Netflix. The first season will follow a metaphysical character named Dream (one of seven powerful entities called the Endless) as he struggles to restore order to his kingdom of the Dreaming after being taken captive for over a century. Coincidentally, various producers have been attempting to adapt “The Sandman” for what feels like almost as long. Feature film versions were planned with directors as disparate as Roger Avary and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, but none of them reached the finish line. Eventually, Warner Bros. licensed the rights to turn the story into a TV show instead, which led to its current incarnation.
The series was developed by Allan Heinberg, who wrote the screenplay for 2017’s acclaimed “Wonder Woman.” Gaiman himself said he would be more involved with the show than he was with “American Gods,” co-executive producing alongside Heinberg and David S. Goyer (“Terminator: Dark Fate”). The cast includes Tom Sturridge in the lead role, Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer, Vivienne Acheampong, Boyd Holbrook, Charles Dance, and David Thewlis.
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Here’s the official synopsis:
The Lord of Dreams has been summoned, and captured, by mortal men. Once free from his captivity, this eternal ruler of Dreams will realize that his troubles are only just beginning. The Sandman is a Netflix series based on the groundbreaking comic book series created for DC by Neil Gaiman. The series is Executive Produced by Neil Gaiman, Allan Heinberg, & David S. Goyer.
Netflix reportedly acquired “The Sandman” after representatives turned it down at HBO, who were concerned about the high cost of production. If fans’ passion for the source material translates to enthusiasm for the series, HBO may soon end up regretting that decision.
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“The Sandman” is due to arrive on Netflix sometime in 2022. Watch the first teaser below.
