‘The Sandman’ Returns To Production Post-Strike On Comic Series’ 35th Anniversay; First On-Set Photo

Denise Petski
·3 min read
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Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman is back in production on Season 2 following the Hollywood strikes, on the 35th anniversary of the original comic series.

Gaiman released a letter Wednesday announcing the production re-start for the Netflix series, along with a behind-the-scenes photo from the set featuring Tom Sturridge (Dream) and Mason Alexander Park (Desire). The Warner Bros. Television production is currently filming in London. You can see the photo below along with Gaiman’s letter.

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In his letter, Gaiman recalled when he began writing The Sandman over 36 years ago when a storm trapped him and his family in their village and he penned the outline for the first eight issues of Sandman. Thirteen months later, the first issue of Sandman was released.

“This week we officially restart production on the next sequence of stories of The Sandman for Netflix”, Gaiman wrote. “Genius show runner Allan Heinberg and the countless people in front of and behind the camera are building something endlessly special, and bringing these stories to life in a way that would once have been unimaginable.”

He added, “A journey is beginning that will take us from Destiny’s garden to Hell, from the Heart of the Dreaming to Ancient Greece and revolutionary France, and from there to places even I cannot quite imagine on the screen. I will be patient. Good things are coming.”

The 10-episode series, based on Gaiman’s DC Comics series of the same name, follows Morpheus (Tom Sturridge), the personification of dreams and one of the seven Endless, who is captured in an occult ritual in 1916. After being held captive for 106 years, Dream (also Sturridge) escapes and sets out to restore order to his realm, the Dreaming.

The official Season 1 synopsis: There is another world that waits for all of us when we close our eyes and sleep — a place called the Dreaming, where The Sandman, Master of Dreams (Tom Sturridge), gives shape to all of our deepest fears and fantasies. But when Dream is unexpectedly captured and held prisoner for a century, his absence sets off a series of events that will change both the dreaming and waking worlds forever. To restore order, Dream must journey across different worlds and timelines to mend the mistakes he’s made during his vast existence, revisiting old friends and foes, and meeting new entities — both cosmic and human — along the way.

Developed and executive produced by Gaiman, showrunner Allan Heinberg, and David S. Goyer, The Sandman season 1 also stars Boyd Holbrook, Patton Oswalt, Vivienne Acheampong, Gwendoline Christie, Charles Dance, Jenna Coleman, David Thewlis, Stephen Fry, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Mason Alexander Park, Donna Preston, Vanesu Samunyai (fka”Kyo Ra”), John Cameron Mitchell, Asim Chaudhry, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Joely Richardson, Niamh Walsh, Sandra James-Young and Razane Jammal.

Heinberg executive produces alongside Gaiman and Goyer. Gaiman, Goyer and Heinberg are also co-writers on the project.

(L to R) Tom Sturridge as Dream, Mason Alexander Park as Desire in episode 204 of The Sandman. Cr. Ed Miller/Netflix
(L to R) Tom Sturridge as Dream, Mason Alexander Park as Desire in episode 204 of The Sandman. Cr. Ed Miller/Netflix

A Letter from Neil Gaiman:

We never know where our dreams will take us. 35 years ago today, the first issue of The Sandman was released and set many people and characters on paths that seemed, even at the time, so unlikely as to be impossible. Back then most comics featured superheroes. Sandman wasn’t that. It wasn’t like anything else, but magically (the magic consisting of hard work, youthful overconfidence, and some key people who believed in the vision) we were given the opportunity to tell the story I had in my head and bring Morpheus and the rest of the Endless to life.

A little over 36 years ago, in October 1987, the worst storm in at least 500 years left my house without power and my family trapped in our little village by fallen trees, and I spent my time writing an outline for the first eight issues of Sandman.

Thirteen months later, in November 1988, the first issue of Sandman hit the comics shops.

Like those who walk a path in Destiny’s garden, I look back and see one clear path stretching behind me. At times on this journey the way forward seemed impossible, and I don’t think I could have conceived of the impact that these characters would have on individuals or on the world. When I look at the path ahead, though, I don’t see darkness. I see how the world of The Sandman continues to grow and evolve and take new forms.

This week we officially restart production on the next sequence of stories of The Sandman for Netflix. Genius show runner Allan Heinberg and the countless people in front of and behind the camera are building something endlessly special, and bringing these stories to life in a way that would once have been unimaginable.

A journey is beginning that will take us from Destiny’s garden to Hell, from the Heart of the Dreaming to Ancient Greece and revolutionary France, and from there to places even I cannot quite imagine on the screen. I will be patient. Good things are coming.

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