The Sandman has been put to sleep for the time being.
In an unfortunate turn of events for fans of DC-inspired Netflix show, The Sandman, production of the much-awaited additional episodes has hit an unforeseen roadblock. The Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) union has initiated a strike, causing an immediate cessation of filming for several ongoing productions, including The Sandman.
Neil Gaiman, the esteemed co-creator and executive producer of The Sandman, validated this news via his BlueSky Social account. His post hinted at hope that the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) would engage in meaningful discussions with the striking actors and writers to resolve the impasse swiftly. Gaiman stated,
“SAG-AFTRA strike is on. Sandman has stopped shooting completely, along with everything else that was squeaking by without writers,” Gaiman’s post reads. “I hope that the AMPTP sees reason and gets back to the table with the actors and the writers. I have no reason at this point to think they will see reason.”
While it’s clear more Sandman is on the way, the official nomenclature for the next batch of episodes is ambiguous. Netflix seems to be consciously refraining from labelling the forthcoming episodes as “Season 2,” as conveyed by actor Mason Alexander Park, who portrays Desire on the show.
The actor, while speaking at Fan Expo San Francisco, emphasized Netflix’s preference to leave the term ‘Season 2’ undecided until more details emerge. Park hinted at an unconventional release of future episodes in a really cool way, promising fans a unique narrative experience. Park shared,
“Netflix has not gone on record as calling it a Season 2, on purpose,” Park explained. “And so, I will, from now on and in the future, and possibly until the end of the universe not refer to it as Season 2 until we know what it is.”
The Sandman’s Journey Continues Amidst Unconventional Pathways
The Sandman, based on the iconic work of Neil Gaiman and a talented team of artists including Sam Kieth, Mike Dringenberg, Jill Thompson, among others, spins a riveting tale intertwining modern myth, dark fantasy, historical drama, and legend. The series follows the journey of Morpheus, the Dream King, who sets about correcting cosmic and human blunders from his expansive lifespan.
The first season of the series boasts an illustrious cast, with the likes of Tom Sturridge as Dream, Kirby Howell-Baptise as Death, Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer, and Mason Alexander Park as Desire, to name a few.
Netflix’s ambiguity around the structure of the upcoming content keeps the excitement brewing. Last year, Peter Friedlander, a Netflix executive, disclosed in an interview that various batching approaches were under consideration, keeping all possibilities open for this inventive show.
Friedlander professed his dedication to maintaining The Sandman’s originality, ensuring that the story’s continuation doesn’t adhere to any predictable path. His commitment to secrecy around upcoming developments is consistent with his desire to provide the best possible viewing experience for the audience.
The announcement of more Sandman content has certainly stirred excitement among its fans, who eagerly await more narrative exploits in the universe of Dream. Despite the current production standstill, the anticipation continues to grow.
For now, fans can revisit the first season of The Sandman that is exclusively available on Netflix.
