Despite the debut season proving to be a major critical and ratings hit, The Sandman will not go beyond season 2 at Netflix. Based on the DC Comics character of the same name by Neil Gaiman, the long-gestating adaptation of the graphic novels centered on Tom Sturridge’s Dream as he sought to restore his realm of Dreaming after being imprisoned for over a century. Having garnered rave reviews, The Sandman season 2 was confirmed in November 2022, with filming occurring from June 2023 to August 2024, having been suspended for a few months amid the SAG-AFTRA strike.
With anticipation still high for the long-awaited second chapter of the show, the official Netflix Twitter account unveiled a new poster for The Sandman season 2. As seen in both the poster and caption for the post, the next installment will be “The Final Season” of the fantasy drama adaptation, with it hyped as being an “epic conclusion” to come in 2025. Check out the poster below:
In addition to the streamer’s announcement, Variety published a report with further insight for The Sandman‘s cancellation, with sources telling the publication that Netflix had already been considering ending the show as early as Summer 2023, when filming was underway for season 2. While Gaiman’s sexual misconduct allegations may or may not have had a further impact on the decision, showrunner Allan Heinberg issued a statement indicating that the plan was to close it out with season 2. See what Heinberg wrote below:
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.
What This Means For The Sandman’s Wider Netflix Future
The Writing Already Seemed On The Wall
Despite the first season proving to be a major hit for the streamer, it may not come as much of a surprise to see The Sandman being cancelled after just two seasons at Netflix. It memorably took the streamer roughly three months to even greenlight the renewal for season 2, which was reported to have stemmed from the show’s massive budget. The above report’s indication that finances played a big part in Netflix’s decision seemingly further showcases their concerns about the show’s longevity.
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The other major reason why The Sandman‘s future was beginning to look grim is Gaiman’s ongoing controversies as multiple sexual misconduct allegations have been levied against him. Even before Netflix’s decision, this had resulted in his exit from Good Omens‘ final season on Prime Video, while the Disney movie adaptation of The Graveyard Book and Coraline musical adaptation were both scrapped. Gaiman was also dropped by publisher Dark Horse, with whom he’s worked for a long time.
Given the streamer had also previously cancelled the show’s spinoff Dead Boy Detectives after just one season, it seemed clear even before Gaiman’s controversies that Netflix were reluctant about Sandman‘s future. With the cast for Sandman season 2 also featuring a variety of characters who are bigger players later on in the comics’ run, namely Destruction, who’s being named The Prodigal in the show, Netflix seemed ready to jump ahead in the material in order to bring the show to a close.
Our Take On The Sandman’s Cancellation
A Disappointing & Premature Decision
Beyond just the show’s debut season being a great incarnation of its source material, I’m actually kind of surprised to see Heinberg share his belief that there wasn’t enough material for The Sandman to continue after season 2. The graphic novels ran for 75 issues, and while some may not have been as cinematic as what season 1 explored, they were still ripe with opportunity for fresh translations to the screen. While I can appreciate Netflix’s desire to cut ties with Gaiman amid his controversies, I can’t help but feel a little disappointed at all of the material that won’t be explored.
The Sandman season 2 is slated for a 2025 release date.
Sources: Netflix/Twitter & Variety
The Sandman
7/10
- Release Date
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August 5, 2022
- Showrunner
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Allan Heinberg
