As more and morecomics get adaptedinto other sensitive , there has been one classic narrative left notably on the page : Neil Gaiman’sThe Sandman , a sprawling dark fantasy that explore humanity through the eye of a dysfunctional , immortal family know as the Endless .
Since it first hit shelves in 1989 , the comic has gained worldwide ill fame and is a prime example of the medium ’s suppuration — but in the eye of Hollywood , it ’s prove itself to be one of the most difficult properties to get onto the covert . But that ’s set to change this summertime as the book ’s longsighted - awaitedNetflix adaptationfinally premieres on August 5 . So to get you ready for a show that ’s more than 30 years in the making , here are eight facts aboutThe Sandmanto try it ’s not a dream .
1. Neil Gaiman originally wanted to write a Phantom Stranger book for DC Comics.
When editor Karen Berger initially approach Neil Gaiman to work forDC Comics , he originallypitched a taradiddle aboutthe Phantom Stranger , a mysterious , immortal soma with no control line and an regalia of cosmic powers . The Stranger debutedin 1952 . It was exactly the type of role Gaiman would have been double-dyed to compose for , the publishing house passed on the idea .
The company did , however , accept Gaiman ’s other pitch forBlack Orchid , a modern take on an even more obscure superhero from its back catalog . ( So obscure , in fact , that Berger asked “ Blackhawk Kid ? Who ’s he ? ” when the pitch come in up . ) The miniseries debut justmonths beforethe first issue ofThe Sandman . Gaiman did eventually finish up including the Phantom Stranger as a major character in his 1990Books of Magicseries .
2. Gaiman’s Sandman wasn’t DC’s first version of the character.
Another pitch Gaiman exhibit to DC was an update rendering of Joe Simon andJack Kirby’sSandman from the ’ seventy . This character could accede multitude ’s dreams and protect them from nightmare with the help of his two minions , Brute and Glob . But this Sandman had coincidentally just been revived in the pages of the comic bookInfinity , Inc. and was off - limits . However , Berger wish Gaiman ’s take on a part who live in multitude ’s aspiration so much that she told him to “ just keep the name and go have sport . ” The result was a brand - new character with the Sandman soubriquet .
DC ’s history of Sandmen extend back even further than that , beginning with a pulp detective translation from the 1930s . This Sandman ( real name Wesley Dodds ) oppose crime with a gas masquerade party and a sleep gun and was part of the Justice Society of America , the first “ super team ” in comics . As the continuities between the theatrical role became more entangled , elements of these alternative Sandman chronicle found their way into Gaiman’sSandmanand vice versa .
3.The Sandmandraws heavily from Greek mythology.
In plus to taking inspiration fromthe Sandman conceptfound in European folklore , the comic also takes many of its cues from classic Greek mythology . Morpheus , the script ’s exceptionally hover main character reference , is based onthe Greek god of dreamsof the same name who is also the son of Hypnos , the Supreme Being of sleep . But Morpheus is justone namethe character depart by — he ’s also denote to as Dream , Oneiros , Kai - ckul , and others throughoutThe Sandman ’s 75 - matter rill .
4.Sandman’s Lucifer was inspired by David Bowie.
Gaiman has n’t been unsure aboutadmittingwho he based the famous come down angel on , saying , “ Yes , the young , folk singer - period Bowie was the inhalation . I suppose Lucifer as a junkie angel , and unseasoned Bowie was the close we make . ”
From the Morningstar ’s very first introduction inSandman#4 , he embodies the visage of the iconic rockstar — first by sportingDavid Bowie ’s distinctive mop of curly blonde hair , and later on by emulating Bowie ’s slight White Duke persona . Gaiman was adamant that only Bowie ’s likeness would suitSandman ’s King of Hell , even going so far as toinsistto artist Kelley Jones , “ [ If ] it is n’t David Bowie , you ’re going to have to make over it until it is David Bowie . ”
5.Sandman#19 won a World Fantasy Award—and controversy ensued.
Established in 1975 , the World Fantasy Awards celebrate fantasy fiction with prizes for novel , novellas , brusk fiction , and several special categories . In 1991 , Gaiman actuallyhad two worksup for consideration : Good Omens , written with Terry Pratchett , lost out for Best Novel whileThe Sandman#19 — titled " Midsummer Night ’s Dream"—took home the prize for Best Short Story .
on the face of it , not everybody was happy that a comic Quran win such a prestigious award , andthe rules were changedimmediately after to eject comics from the short fiction family , makingSandman#19 the first and last one to come through . funnies are , however , still eligibleunder the Special Award category .
6. Hollywood has been trying to adaptSandmansince 1991.
More than a few attemptshave been made to get aSandmanmovie or TV series into production , with Warner Bros , HBO , and New Line Cinema all putting versions into ontogeny since 1991 . Despite the involvement in adapting the comic , the potential projects were forever chivy with scheduling conflicts and originative dispute .
Gaiman , having read legion hand over the years , claim one screenplay by writer William Farmer was “ not only the worstSandmanscript I ’ve ever seen , but quite easily the spoilt script I ’ve ever read . ” It ’s said to have turned Morpheus into a villain who was also Lucifer ’s brother .
It was n’t until 2020 thatSandmanfinally unwrap liberal from the comic Thomas Nelson Page in the material body of anAudible exclusive , multi - part audio dramatic play . Upon its outlet , it receivedpraise(and somecriticism ) for its close recreation of the first three loudness ofSandman : Preludes and Nocturnes , The Doll ’s House , andDream Country . In it , James McAvoy voices Morpheus and Kat Dennings play his babe , Death .
7. ASandmanTV show finally became a reality at Netflix, and Neil Gaiman is very involved.
When aSandmanTV show was officially denote at Netflixin 2019 , longtime comic fans must have been free to see Gaiman ’s name attached as a producer and Centennial State - writer . In addition , he was conjoin by funny - to - screen warhorse Allan Heinberg ( Wonder Woman ) and David Goyer ( The Dark Knight ) , who are both credited as writers and executive producers .
" For the last thirty - three years , theSandmancharacters have catch one’s breath and walk around and verbalize in my head . I ’m unbelievably well-chosen that now , last , they get to step out of my head and into world . I ca n’t wait until the people out there get to see what we ’ve been seeing as Dream and the residuum of them take flesh , and the flesh belong to to some of the finest actors out there , " Gaiman said , in reinforcement of theinitial molding reveal .
Actors on the project include Boyd Holbrook as The Corinthian , Kirby Howell - Baptiste as Death , Jenna Coleman as Johanna Constantine , Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer , Patton Oswalt as Matthew the Raven , Stephen Fry as Gilbert , Mason Alexander Park as Desire , and Tom Sturridge as Dream / Morpheus . The series will debut on August 5 , 2002 .
8. There were more than 1500 auditions for the role of Dream.
purge a show likeSandmanis a prolonged outgrowth , and Gaiman believes that he personally see at least1500 auditionsfor Dream / Morpheus alone . If you remember that ’s a lot , the generator added that , " I hesitate to ideate how many [ sick conductor ] Lucinda Syson and her team have seen . "
Tom Sturridge — who was finally chosen for the iconic role — acknowledge the protracted and uncertain process as something inescapable , enjoin , " It was alone necessary , because this is a part who is so dead beloved — by me more than anyone . That requires you to spend time with a human being to fall upon if they can live up to the ambition you have of who he is . "
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