Writer Neil Gaiman says that Netflix's The Sandman will surprise viewers by reinventing itself each episode. The series will be an adaptation of Gaiman's comic book of the same name, which first began publication in 1989 under DC Comics' Vertigo imprint before changing to DC Black Label. The comic creator has been heavily involved with the show's development according to producer Davis S. Goyer, with Gaiman co-writing The Sandman's pilot as well as serving as an executive producer on the show.
Adaptations of Gaiman's works have become more and more popular lately, with American Gods and Good Omens also recently receiving TV shows. Those projects involved a number of famous faces and The Sandman is no different. Gwendoline Christie, best known from Game of Thrones, will be playing Lucifer and will be joined by a number of other respected talents such as Stephen Fry, David Thewlis, and Patton Oswalt. The show's lineup had been a mystery for some time with The Sandman filming prior to announcing its cast. The series' story will see the personification of dreams escaping imprisonment and embarking on a mission to restore order to his realm, but the details of each episode are still under wraps.
Speaking to Empire, Gaiman discussed the tone of The Sandman and how it may appeal to a range of viewers because of its lack of commitment to any one particular genre. While the show won't be an anthology series, he describes how each episode will have a different tone from the last. Due to the fantastical nature of The Sandman and its portrayal of the personification of metaphysical entities, it looks like the show will use this narrative tool to create a whimsical and unique experience for viewers. Check out his comments below:
“You watch Episode 1 and think, ‘Oh, I get this thing: it’s like Downton Abbey, but with magic. Then you’ll be wondering, ‘What the hell is this?’ by Episode 2, when you’re meeting Gregory The Gargoyle in The Dreaming. Episode 5 is about as dark and traumatic as anything is ever gonna get, then you’ve got Episode 6, which is probably the most feel-good of all the episodes. If you didn’t like an episode of Game Of Thrones, you probably won’t like any other episode of Game Of Thrones,” reasons Gaiman. “With Sandman, it’s all about surprising you. It’s all about reinventing itself. It’s all about taking you on a journey you’ve not been on before.”
Diversity appears to be an integral part of Netflix's The Sandman in a number of ways; both in terms of tone as well as in its approach to casting. There had been some debate from fans over its casting of non-binary and Black actors, with some claiming the actors chosen deviated too much from the source material. But Gaiman defended the casting on Twitter, telling his followers to actually watch the show before they jump to conclusions. The show has also been confirmed to be rated TV-MA for language, sex, and violence - so The Sandman will have plenty of freedom to explore different genres and more mature subjects.
From Gaiman's comments, The Sandman certainly sounds like it'll be an emotional rollercoaster for viewers and could appeal to a wide range of audiences. Although a recently released image has given a peek into the show with a look at The Sandman's Dream and The Librarian, this is probably just a small insight into how the show will ultimately look and feel if it's constantly switching things up. The Sandman has the potential to be an epic and unique addition to Netflix's catalog when it debuts later this year.
Source: Empire