The Sandman series is actually happening — after all these years. Creator Neil Gaiman announced the first seven cast members of the upcoming Netflix series via Twitter this morning.
So Morpheus, aka Dream of the Endless, is Tom Sturridge. Let's just say that he's perfect for the role. pic.twitter.com/LxnHglxLLp
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) January 28, 2021
As Dream/Morpheus Tom Sturridge has been cast — and if nothing else his headshot reveals he has the right hairstyle. Sturridge previously played Lord Byron in the Mary Shelley film, so he’s experienced in moodiness.
Casting Lucifer was a delight. I'm so very glad that @lovegwendoline is the Ruler of Hell in Sandman on @netflix. pic.twitter.com/YnxXUy9S5T
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) January 28, 2021
Game of Thrones and Star Wars vet Gwendoline Christie is playing Lucifer, an excellent gender-swap, although such things are mutable.
One of my favourite changes from the Sandman comic. Our Lucien has become a Lucienne, and @vivacheampong brings the wise librarian of dreams to pointy-eared life. pic.twitter.com/2eLyBM14GC
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) January 28, 2021
Cain is the first murderer. He is Abel's brother, locked in a monstrous double act. He's going to be played in Sandman on @netflix by @TVSanjeev. pic.twitter.com/RJtPdLmU88
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) January 28, 2021
Asim Chadhry is Abel in the @Netflix Sandman. He's @AsimC86 and he's hilarious and tragic. pic.twitter.com/pzdsKaU9uI
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) January 28, 2021
In Sandman Roderick Burgess is more than just a charlatan and a magician. He also blackmails people. And he captures the Lord of Dreams, while trying to do something else. He's Charles Dance… pic.twitter.com/gr96rv3ofe
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) January 28, 2021
This is a photo of Boyd Holbrook. It is not a photo of the character in Sandman that he will be playing, the Corinthian.
For those who are wondering how I can tell, it's something about the eyes. pic.twitter.com/9Izn3Bq4Tb
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) January 28, 2021
Rounding out the announcements, Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne, the librarian and sidekick to Dream (Another gender swap); Boyd Holbrook as The Corinthian, the chilling killer; Another GoT and Lost vet, Charles Dance as Roderick Burgess, “Charlatan, blackmailer and magician”; and Asim Chaudry as Abel and Sanjeev Bhaskar as Cain, the first victim and the first predator, residents and loyal subjects of the Dream Realm.
The long awaited series is coming to Netflix at some point in the future, with Allan Heinberg (Wonder Woman, Grey’s Anatomy) as showrunner. Gaiman, Heinberg and David S. Goyer (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Terminator: Dark Fate, Foundation) are the executive producers and the co-writers on the project — an experienced team that knows comics and film quite well.
The Sandman debuted as a Vertigo comic* back in 1989 and instantly became a fantasy classic exploring Dream and the world of the Endless, six immortal beings, and the humans who interact with them, with sometimes tragic results.
In the past 30 years The Sandman has been one of the holy grails for media adaptation, but all the intervening time has only served to improve the technology and, realistically, the platform for the series. Dream casting the comic has been a cottage industry over the years, but now it’s real!
What do you think? Does this cast have you excited for the Netflix Sandman series?
*Technically the Vertigo imprint did not exist when Sandman debuted but you know what I mean.
