Netflix’s ambitious and remarkably faithful adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s comic book The Sandman will snooze a bit longer. The streamer cryptically announced that there were “more episodes and stories to be adapted from multiple graphic novels.” So technically, it hasn’t ordered a new season, but more episodes. Keep in mind, the first season consisted of 10 regular episodes with a bonus two-parter that was released after the fact.
Gaiman issued a statement saying:
“Millions upon millions of people have welcomed and watched and loved The Sandman on Netflix, from established Sandman fans to people who were simply curious, and then became obsessed with the Lord of Dreams, his family, and their goings-on. It gives me unbelievable pleasure to say that, working with Netflix and Warner Bros., Allan Heinberg, David Goyer and I will be bringing even more of The Sandman stories to life. There are some astonishing stories waiting for Morpheus and the rest of them (not to mention more members of the Endless Family to meet). Nobody is going to be happier about this than the Sandman cast and crew: they are the biggest Sandman fans there are. And now it’s time to get back to work. There’s a family meal ahead, after all. And Lucifer is waiting for Morpheus to return to Hell…”
As Gaiman referenced, he developed the Netflix series with Allan Heinberg and David S. Goyer, two veterans of comic book adaptations. Heinberg co-wrote the first Wonder Woman movie. In the realm of comics, he has also penned the Wonder Woman series and created the Young Avengers for Marvel. His past TV work includes Sex and the City, Grey’s Anatomy, and Scandal, among others.
Goyer wrote or co-wrote the original Blade trilogy, Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, Man of Steel, and (blech) Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. In comics, he has worked on titles featuring Batman, Superman, Ghost Rider, Blade, and the Justice Society of America. Characters from the latter just made their cinematic debuts in Black Adam.
Gaiman, Heinberg, and Goyer serve as executive producers on The Sandman along with Mike Barker.
Tom Sturridge stars as Morpheus/Dream, with Boyd Holbrook as the Corinthian, Vivienne Acheampong as the librarian Lucienne, and Patton Oswalt as the voice of Matthew the Raven. Season 1 also featured David Thewlis, Jenna Coleman, Gwendoline Christie, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Ferdinand Kingsley, Steven Fry, Vanesu Samunya, and many more. The voice of Mervyn Pumpkinhead was provided by the legendary Mark Hamill.
The first season was released in early August and was favorably received by both critics and viewers. It drew a lot of viewers, but as recently as August, Gaiman expressed that there was no guarantee of a second season, as The Sandman is a, as he put it “really expensive show.”
Considering that The Sandman was just renewed, it may be a couple of years before these new episodes arrive. Did you enjoy the first season? Are you looking forward to more?
