SANDMAN Co-Creator Neil Gaiman Says The Netflix Series Has Been Put On Hold Due To COVID-19

SANDMAN Co-Creator Neil Gaiman Says The Netflix Series Has Been Put On Hold Due To COVID-19 SANDMAN Co-Creator Neil Gaiman Says The Netflix Series Has Been Put On Hold Due To COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic continues causing chaos in the entertainment industry, and Sandman co-creator Neil Gaiman has now offered an update about where things stand with the small screen Netflix adaptation.

By JoshWilding - Apr 20, 2020 04:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Netflix

Sandman is a property fans of the Vertigo Comics series have been anxious to see in live-action for a long time now, and it sounds like things were moving along nicely at Netflix before the COVID-19 pandemic put the TV show on hold. Answering a fan's question on Tumblr (yes, people still use that), co-creator Neil Gaiman provided fans with an update. 

"The scripts for the first season are written, casting had started, directors hired, sets were being built," he reveals. "Everything was ready to go into production, and then we moved into a pause." On the plus side, while the show is now "hibernating," Gaiman adds: "As soon as the world is ready to make TV drama, Sandman will move smoothly back into being made."

Netflix gave an adaptation of the iconic comic book property the green light last summer, and Gaiman came on board at the time as an executive producer and co-writer. He's previously said that the first two seasons have already been plotted out, but an actual start date was never confirmed.

Now, current world events mean that Sandman is inevitably heading our way later than expected.

The Netflix series is being developed, co-written and executive produced by Allan Heinberg, who also serves as showrunner. Gaiman and David S. Goyer will both executive produce and co-write.
 

https://neil-gaiman.tumblr.com/post/615424660251803648/i-noticed-on-the-wikipedia-page-for-the-sandman
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tmp3
tmp3 - 4/20/2020, 4:31 AM
Gaiman says directors have been hired, and recently fullcirclecinema said that Toby Haynes (USS Calister from Black Mirror) had been offered to direct.
https://fullcirclecinema.com/2020/04/19/character-breakdowns-the-sandman-death/
His episode of Black Mirror was probably my favorite from that whole season, so it's a good choice. If they're getting different directors for different episodes, I'd love it if they got someone like Ari Aster for the 24 hour diner.
GwenLantern
GwenLantern - 4/20/2020, 4:38 AM
@tmp3 - Guillermo Del Toro for any episode at all.
tmp3
tmp3 - 4/20/2020, 4:42 AM
@GwenLantern - Would he have the time to do TV? He has a new film that was just halted because of Covid-19. If he would, they should get him to direct the JL Dark show too, haha. Seems unlikely though.
Dredd97
Dredd97 - 4/20/2020, 5:37 AM
@tmp3 - USS Callister was the best hour of Star Trek since the 90s
GwenLantern
GwenLantern - 4/20/2020, 5:38 AM
@tmp3 - I think he'd make an exception to serve the Lord of Dreams.

Problem is, studios don't generally call big name directors for TV like that. So he'd have to somehow put the word out that he's interested.

Maybe an original movie would be up his alley. Like Death: The High Cost of living (which he was set to produce/direct himself a long time ago).
tmp3
tmp3 - 4/20/2020, 5:47 AM
@SmokingMan - I loved it. I take it you're excited for his involvement then, haha

@GwenLantern - Ehh, to be fair GDT was only producing Death: The High Cost of living; Gaiman was going to make his directorial debut with that film. Maybe he could adapt it during the course of this show instead, and make his directing debut there. If they're not gonna call big name directors for TV, I'd hope that calling up big name actors isn't off the table... Adam Driver would be an incredible Morpheus, but it would be hard since he's a big movie star...
Dredd97
Dredd97 - 4/20/2020, 5:52 AM
@tmp3 - Oh absolutely. And I love when the creators can get involved. Like when Mignola wrote Hellboy II with Del Toro. Gaiman is basically a genius on the level of Moore, less of a madman of course haha and Sandman is just other worldly. I'm excited for this. And Adam Driver as Morpheus is inspired! Imagine that voice delivering Gaiman dialogue
tmp3
tmp3 - 4/20/2020, 5:58 AM
@SmokingMan - It's funny you mention Moore, since Watchmen and Sandman feel like they're on the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to creator's rights on critically adored DC comics from the late 80's. Granted, Morpheus and co aren't creator-owned, but DC seems to always ask Gaiman before they do anything with the IP itself, right down to the recent "Sandman Universe" imprints being curated by the man himself. Compare this to Before Watchmen, which Moore must have felt disgusted by.
I will say, creators being involved isn't always a good thing; look at the long-gestating McFarlane-directed Spawn film, which can't even get off the ground even with an Oscar winner and Hawkguy in the cast.
Also, fuuuuck would Adam Driver be perfect for Morpheus. He's got the kind of voice that sounds like white text on black text boxes.
GwenLantern
GwenLantern - 4/20/2020, 6:31 AM
@SmokingMan - I'm down for Driver.
Reeds2Much
Reeds2Much - 4/20/2020, 8:39 AM
@tmp3 - I think DC doesn't ask Moore because it's easier to deal with a Wizard's Curse after the product you're trying to make out and making money than before because, you might be turned into a frog but at least you have some money.
HeavyKevy
HeavyKevy - 4/20/2020, 5:02 AM
It was on hold without Covid...
MinaHarker
MinaHarker - 4/20/2020, 5:43 AM
@HeavyKevy - No, it wasn't. They were holding auditions. In fact four audition tapes leaked and a sound studio was booked in London for May through December for filming. The scripts were finished. Everyone knew this.
Grodd87
Grodd87 - 4/20/2020, 5:10 AM
This is a stunning turn of events
MinaHarker
MinaHarker - 4/20/2020, 5:42 AM
@Grodd87 - Especially since this site already reported on this back in March when they posted an article about Netflix halting all show productions. Sandman was part of that list!
Grodd87
Grodd87 - 4/20/2020, 6:32 AM
@MinaHarker - you mean that this site is recycling material. I can’t believe this how can I get threw this pandemic with this news coming out.
Dredd97
Dredd97 - 4/20/2020, 5:36 AM
That dude's really simping on David Goyer hahaha "awesome"
MinaHarker
MinaHarker - 4/20/2020, 5:41 AM
Why would you post this as news? I thought better of you. Your site already posted about how all Netflix shows have been put on hold because of Covid 19 a month ago. That entails Sandman as it's... You know... a Netflix production. You technically told us this a month ago.
marvel72
marvel72 - 4/20/2020, 5:44 AM
Netflix needs to make a Vampirella or Lady Death series.

I would also love to see Alan Moore's MiracleMan.

Each volume of the graphic novel could be one of the three seasons.
tmp3
tmp3 - 4/20/2020, 5:49 AM
@marvel72 - More importantly, are we ever gonna get a MiracleMan conclusion? Gaiman said on twitter that it's up to Marvel on when those next issues come out, but it's been, like, 7 years.
marvel72
marvel72 - 4/20/2020, 5:57 AM
@tmp3 - Well in Marvel Comics #1000 there was a bit with MiracleMan and I think it was a sort of tease that Marvel was planning something.
tmp3
tmp3 - 4/20/2020, 6:01 AM
@marvel72 - 🤞
Kucakingkai1991
Kucakingkai1991 - 4/20/2020, 6:11 AM
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