Neil Gaiman may be excused for believing he was dreaming.
Decades have passed since plans to adapt his epic The Sandman comic book series for the big screen were conceived. Now, it’s occurring for real. Really.
In the 1990s, Hollywood first attempted to adapt Gaiman’s works.
The writer states that they attempted to fit a 3,000-page tale into two hours of film time. “And no one has ever broken that code because it was unbreakable.”
The emergence of long-form television, with its capacity to accommodate more intricate narratives, has been a boon for works such as The Sandman.
The first 75-issue run of the series had both short independent stories and longer, more interwoven narratives.
Naturally, Gaiman has welcomed Netflix’s choice to devote significant resources to presenting his vision to television audiences.
This is the golden age of television, he believes. And we possess the technology to create something similar.
So, what is this exactly?
The Sandman briefly follows Morpheus. After escaping long imprisonment, he attempts to recover his abilities and dominion over the world of dreams, as he personifies stories and dreams.
He is a member of the Endless family, which includes Death and Desire.
Tom Sturridge, who portrays Dream/Morpheus, adds that performing in San Diego in front of fans and alongside Neil Gaiman was the ideal way to begin a project of this nature.
He states that it is overpowering. To be at Comic-Con and to be able to share it with those who have waited so long.
“Neil Gaiman is the reason I enjoy the Sandman series. And I am under pressure to please him. That is my fanatical side. If he is happy, then so are we.”
For many members of the cast, this is their first Comic-Con. Not Jennifer Coleman. Despite this, she’s still excited minutes after leaving the stage.
“I haven’t been in Hall H since Peter Capaldi performed with Doctor Who in 2015, so it’s quite thrilling to be back.”
Her character has undergone minor and not-so-subtle alterations from the comic, making her one of the most intriguing characters. Something that she enjoyed.
“I was like, ‘This is a character I’ve never portrayed before,’ especially since Johanna Constantine is the female version of John Constantine. And behind the cynicism, dry humor, and deflection, there is a wounded lone warrior within.
“Being a foul-mouthed, roguelike cynic is intricate, multifaceted, and profound, as well as a lot of fun.” Indeed, he’s entertaining.”
“Unbelievably varied”
Mason Alexander Park, who is non-binary, portrays Desire, an additional member of the Endless. They have praised the show’s casting decisions.
“The character is always non-binary, even in the original context of the comics,” they add. “And to be able to maintain that in this iteration of the show, and to have an actor portraying the part also identify as the character does, I think it’s a testament to where we are in this moment.
Our play is incredibly diverse and brilliantly representative of the world around us, which is what I believe Sandman is meant to be. You should be able to recognize yourself in Sandman regardless of your origin or identity. And I believe our version accurately reflects it.”
Death is an additional important character in the narrative. This role, portrayed by Kirby Howell-Baptiste, has been her dream for years.
“I don’t know if playing Death is every young woman’s ideal role, but it was certainly this young woman’s,” she chuckles.
“When I first read the comics, I never believed I would have the opportunity to portray this part. Even when I read them roughly ten years ago, there were rumors that they might be adapted into a film. But you know, I never in my wildest imaginings thought I would be a part of it, let alone in such a significant way.”
After such a long wait for a live-action adaptation of The Sandman, there is unavoidably a great deal of anticipation. How much pressure does the author of the story feel?
Gaiman states, “What matters is that we love it.” “What matters is that we produce something of which we can be proud. And you cannot force someone to like or dislike anything.
“I have no idea how the public will respond to this. And I do not object. What excites me is that I have created something that I believe to be excellent.
I cannot wait for others to view it. And if they enjoy it, they’ll tell others about it, and ultimately everyone will see it.
“And it’s okay if people don’t like it, because you can’t force people to enjoy things. But I enjoy it.”
I believe everyone is aware of the outcome that Neil Gaiman secretly desires.
