Neil Gaiman Allegations Bring 'The Sandman' A Cancellation At Netflix
They have a dream of a sugarcoat but everyone can see through it
The entertainments industry is officially putting its Neil Gaiman ties to sleep. In the midst of a near three-year wait for season 2 of Netflix’s The Sandman adaptation, and the fallout of major sexual misconduct allegations of the once-beloved author, the streamer announced the show’s cancellation with its own Tudum piece. The show’s Twitter tells “Dream’s journey has all been building to this.”
Showrunner Allan Heinberg put out a blanket statement for all outlets, at least can be surmised as both Netflix and Variety say they were told “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.” Reportedly the second season was intended to be the last prior to filming, and prior to the Gaiman revelations. This is largely attributed to how expensive it is. The series wasn’t renewed until November 22, three months after premiere. Their announcement danced around calling it second season at all, choosing to word it as “a continuation of The Sandman world,”and wouldn’t commit to an episode count.
It’s one more phantasmagorical journey for Morpheus, played by Tom Sturridge. In a behind the scenes video for Geeked Week in September, Sturridge described that Dream is in a place of rebuilding at the start of the season adding that Dream has to reckon with his past decisions, “the consequences of which are enormous.” Heinberg meanwhile revealed that Dream has more skeletons in his closet. “Dream, having escaped his captivity in the waking world, has reclaimed his stolen tools and missing dreams, and is now focused on rebuilding his realm and attending to his duties,” he says. “That is, until the sins of his past catch up with him and make that impossible.”
Season 1 cast members returning include Kirby as Death, Mason Alexander Park as Desire, and Donna Preston as Despair, Patton Oswalt as Matthew the Raven, Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne, Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer Morningstar, Jenna Coleman as Johanna Constantine, Ferdinand Kingsley as Hob Gadling, Stephen Fry as Gilbert, Asim Chaudhry as Abel, Sanjeev Bhaskar as Cain, Vanesu Samunyai as Rose Walker and Razane Jammal as Lyta Hall. They are joined by this season’s new folks, Esmé Creed-Miles as Delirium, Adrian Lester as Destiny, Barry Sloane as “The Prodigal,” Ruairi O’Connor as Orpheus, Freddie Fox as Loki, Clive Russell as Odin, Laurence O’Fuarain as Thor, Ann Skelly as Nuala, Douglas Booth as Cluracan, Jack Gleeson as Puck, Indya Moore as Wanda and Steve Coogan as the voice of Barnabas the dog. All episodes this season were directed by Jamie Childs, as it follows the “Season of Mists” storyline from Gaiman’s comics published by DC, in which Lucifer relinquishes control of Hell and presents Morpheus, aka Dream, with the key to its gates, coveted by many immortals who try to convince him to give it to them.
The castings of younger sister Delirium, eldest brother Destiny, and The Prodigal, who unforgivably abandoned the family 300 years ago, did set off several alarm bells that the end of the comics adaptation was coming, but being so before the accusations really picked up it was easy to believe that, if one hadn’t known the alleged plan to wrap up here, future seasons could come up with original material, especially with Gaiman’s then-assumed involvement.
According to U.K.-based Tortoise Media, a woman named Scarlett alleged that Gaiman sexually assaulted her in New Zealand in February 2022, while she was working as a nanny to his child. A second woman, going by K, said that after meeting Gaiman at a Florida book signing in 2003, aged 18, she was submitted to rough sex with him, amid an otherwise consensual relationship, which she “neither wanted nor enjoyed.” Tortoise reported at least three other sexual assault allegations. The New York Magazine piece “The Safe Word” by Lila Shapiro then corroborated and amplified the stories. They included included a babysitter for Gaiman and his ex-wife Amanda Palmer’s child, a caretaker for Gaiman’s property in Woodstock, New York, a fan who first met the author when she was 18 and a woman who alleged he tried to act on her on his tour bus. Many alleged that Gaiman had a preference for rough sex and BDSM activities without prior consent.
The fallout thus far has seen development paused on a movie at Disney based on his The Graveyard Book, the condensing of the final season of Good Omens to a feature-length series finale, and Dark Horse Comics severed their relationship, canceling his Anansi Boys comic. Their statement read “Dark Horse takes seriously the allegations against Neil Gaiman and we are no longer publishing his works. Confirming that the Anansi Boys comic series and collected volume have been canceled.” An Anansi Boys television series at Prime Video expected to premiere this year has not been affected by the allegations, even in the week since the dropping. The Sandman’s final season is set to premiere this year as well, expected for summer.
