Morpheus, the raven-haired Lord of Dreams, has existed for much of creation and has traveled far and wide throughout that time. His presence has been felt at the dawn of mankind, in the discoveries of the European Renaissance, along the abandoned corridors of hell, in the myths of feudal Japan and along London streets on the eve of the new Millenium. He’s been nearly everywhere, it seems. So, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised to learn he’ll soon be seen on Netflix.
Yes, for the first time since his introduction in 1988, Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman will live in a medium other than comics. Confirmed today by Netflix, the beloved and highly influential comic fantasy has received a series order for a live action TV show from executive producers Gaiman, Allan Heinberg and David S. Goyer. While very little is known about the direction of the series, the award-winning comic was written for mature readers and unspooled as a combination of standalone and serialized stories that introduced Morpehus and his six equally compelling siblings.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the brilliant team that is Neil Gaiman, David S. Goyer and Allan Heinberg to finally bring Neil’s iconic comic book series, The Sandman, to life onscreen,” said Channing Dungey, VP, Original Series, Netflix. “From its rich characters and storylines to its intricately built-out worlds, we’re excited to create an epic original series that dives deep into this multi-layered universe beloved by fans around the world.”
Gaiman famously created his version of The Sandman when then DC editor (and eventual Vertigo Comics founder) Karen Berger requested a fresh take on the classic Golden Age comic character. The Sandman comic told the tale of Morpheus, AKA Dream, a powerful, near immortal being who presided over the realm of Dreams as he attempted to correct mistakes he’d made over the course of his existence. Gaiman’s ongoing Sandman comic ran for seven years, but has been occasionally revisited in limited series and was recently revived via four ongoing, original titles set within its universe. However, it’s the original 75-issue series that captured the imagination of readers worldwide—many of them entirely new to comics—and helped to launch the career of Gaiman. Over thirty years after its debut, The Sandman continues to remain a seminal, highly acclaimed work of fantasy.