Author Neil Gaiman is no stranger to film and television, and several of his works have made it to screens both big and small over the years. Among them are 2009’s “Coraline,” Starz‘s 2015 series of “American Gods,” and Matthew Vaughn‘s 2007 take on “Stardust.” Yet none of those carry the same popularity as Gaiman’s most beloved work, “The Sandman,” the DC Comics series from 1989-1996.
And now, after decades of clamor for an adaptation of the beloved comic, fans finally get their wish. “The Sandman” hits Netflix this summer, and Gaiman’s onboard to ensure the show stays as true to the comic as possible. The show’s eleven-episode first season tackles the comic’s first storyline, where Morpheus, the king of dreams and one of the seven Endless, vows to restore order to his realm after escaping 105-year captivity.
So, who plays the titular Sandman in this long-awaited adaptation? The honor goes to Tom Sturridge: Two-time Tony Award nominee and lifelong fan of the comic. He leads a stacked ensemble cast that includes Gwendoline Christie, Boyd Holbrook, Charles Dance, David Thewlis, and Jenna Coleman. “The Sandman” also stars Vivienne Acheampong, Asim Chandry, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Joely Richardson, and Stephen Fry. Patton Oswalt also provides voice-over work.
So, how will “The Sandman” fare as a comic book adaptation in a market saturated by the MCU? Will it suffer the same fate as another long-awaited comics adaptation, “Y: The Last Man?” Only time will tell, but Gaiman’s comic’s cult status has our hopes up for this show’s success.
“The Sandman” arrives on Netflix on August 5. Check out the trailer below: