Back in August 2022, the TV adaptation of the acclaimed DC Comics series The Sandman was released to Netflix subscription holders and was met with positive critical reception. However, the show wasn’t greenlit for Season 2 until the following November, with most of the filming for the next batch of episodes occurring between late November 2023 and August 2024 following an interruption by the SAG-AFTRA strike. Since then though, it’s been unclear what exactly is the release plan is for The Sandman Season 2 and the show’s overall future. Well, today brings word that while Season 2 will indeed premiere on the 2025 TV schedule, that’ll mark the end of the series.
Per Variety, Netflix, one of the best streaming services, has decided to end The Sandman after just two seasons. This news comes in the wake of the sexual misconduct allegations that have been directed at Neil Gaiman, who wrote the original Sandman comic book series and worked on the TV show as an executive producer. However, the publication’s sources claim that even back in July 2024, before these allegations started making the rounds, The Sandman was already expected to end with Season 2 given how expensive it was to produce.
The Sandman showrunner Allan Heinberg had the following to say about the series ending in the below statement:
‘The Sandman’ series has always been focused exclusively on Dream’s story, and back in 2022, when we looked at the remaining Dream material from the comics, we knew we only had enough story for one more season. We are extremely grateful to Netflix for bringing the team all back together and giving us the time and resources to make a faithful adaptation in a way that we hope will surprise and delight the comics’ loyal readers as well as fans of our show.
While the original Sandman comic book series ran for 75 issues under DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint and spawned various spinoff series, Heinberg is correct that Dream, a.k.a. Morpheus, wasn’t always the center of attention during that run. That said, I am a little suspect that there was only enough material left for a second season, and wonder if Season 3 might have been in the cards if expense and the Neil Gaiman allegations weren’t factors. But it’s a moot point now, so fingers crossed that The Sandman Season 2 can stick the landing with concluding the ruler of The Dreaming’s story.
This is just the latest Neil Gaiman-centric project that’s been impacted as the allegations against the creative continue being discussed. He also departed Prime Video’s Good Omens, which was will now air a one-off finale instead of Season 3; the film adaptation of The Graveyard Book has paused development; the Coraline musical has been scrapped; and he was dropped by Dark Horse Comics. Again though, in The Sandman’s case, the writing was apparently on the wall that it wouldn’t have a long run.
While we wait for The Sandman Season 2’s premiere date, remember that in addition to Tom Sturridge reprising Dream, actors like Patton Oswalt, Vivienne Acheampong, Gwendoline Christie and Jenna Coleman will also be back. Season 2 additions include Esmé Creed-Miles, Adrian Lester, Barry Sloane, Ruairi O’Connor, Jack Gleeson, Indya Moore and Steve Coogan.
