Summary
Fans ofThe SandmanNetflix series can rejoice a bit more as the show marks a major step forward with its most recent castings ahead of the show’s highly anticipated second season, rounding out the main group of characters from the source material.
The Sandmanhas been a popular IP since its inception, limited in reach only by its medium of origin in comic books from DC Comics. This was an issue that Netflix set out to resolve, taking on the mantle of makingone of many great adaptations of Neil Gaiman’s workin aSandmanTV show aftermany failed attempts at getting a film series off the ground at Warner Bros. The first season debuted to massive success, introducing fans to the protagonist Dream of the Endless and his siblings Death, Desire, and Despair.
WhileGaiman gave an interesting season 2 update a year agothat gave details on the writing and filming schedule, a recent report on the casting processgives fans some great news about the second seasonand its potential ramifications for the plot. As reported byVariety, the show’s second season has added three new members to the cast, with Esmé Creed-Miles joining the cast as Delirium, Adrian Lester as Destiny, and Barry Sloane as “The Prodigal.” These three join Dream and his other Endless siblings that were shown in season one to finally round off the group of seven immortals. Rounding out the cast like this is revealing for longtime fans, who can already see the shadows of the popular Season of Mists storyline.
While there are manythings thatThe SandmanNetflix show changed from the comics,one thing that seems clear is thatthe show is going to keep a veil on the true identity of Sloane’s character, who was known as The Prodigal in his first appearances in the source material before his true role within the Endless was revealed. Being the only one of the endless to abandon their role and take to wandering, Sloane’s character will be a treasure trove of interest for new fans and a great callback for fans of the comics as well. Delirium and Destiny are equally interesting, with Destiny occupying a narratively interesting space and Delirium having an interesting backstory, formerly known as Delight and having evolved over the course of their narrative.
The Sandmanis easily one of DC’s best horror comics, and the success of the current adaptation is great for the company and its rich collection of similar IP that won’t see the light of day under the new DCU franchise that James Gunn is crafting. The small screen has proven a viable medium for this sort of storytelling, and fans might be well-served if more of DC’s darker offerings (such as those confined to the Vertigo imprint once upon a time) could be picked up in a similar fashion. With this, they could remain far removed from the lighter, more generally palatable DC films and shows newer fans expect and enjoy whilestill putting these amazing stories up for others.
Since the show got renewed for its second season despiteWBD’s David Zaslav being unsatisfied with Netflix’s payment structure, it is, hopefully, a testament to the show’s success and staying power. The latest round of castings certainly signals a lot of interesting storylines coming up that both longtime Sandman enjoyers and newer fans can get behind. If it’s handled like the previous season, thenthe upcoming arc ofThe Sandmanwill be a triumph.
The Sandmanseason 2 is currently set for release on Netflix sometime in 2025.
