Netflix has confirmed that The Sandman adaptation by Variety will conclude after its second season, owing to the ongoing scandal surrounding Neil Gaiman‘s alleged sexual misconduct.
Netflix’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman‘s “The Sandman” will end with its upcoming second season.
It’s been quite a wait since “The Sandman” Season 1 premiered back in August 2022. Netflix didn’t confirm it as a second season until November of that year, and even then, they were vague about the label, referring to it more as a continuation of the “The Sandman” universe without committing to a specific number of episodes. It has now been confirmed that the intended final season of “The Sandman”, scheduled for filming in 2023, is indeed Season 2.
The confirmation of the show’s finale follows a series of allegations of sexual misconduct against Gaiman, the creator of “The Sandman” DC comics and the TV series. However, before these accusations surfaced in a Tortoise Media podcast in July 2024, sources close to “The Sandman” had already informed Variety that the expensive series, produced by Warner Bros. Television for Netflix, was planning to conclude with its second season during production in summer 2023. The casting of Season 2 characters in May 2024 suggested that the series was wrapping up the comics’ storyline much earlier than fans expected.
It seems production costs are high for this show, which is common for many modern TV series today. However, ethical considerations should still be a factor. Given the circumstances, this outcome was predictable. Earlier reports suggested that Netflix may release the second season without much promotion: Dexerto hinted at this possibility.
The accusations of sexual misconduct against Neil Gaiman have resulted in various upcoming endeavors being scrapped, yet Netflix has been silent regarding The Sandman Season 2 – up until this point. (This sentence aims to convey the same information as the original, but with a more natural and easy-to-read flow.)
In a fleeting instant, Netflix revealed its jam-packed TV, film, and gaming lineup for 2025, and surprisingly, The Sandman Season 2 made a brief appearance on the schedule.
At this point, it’s not clear to what extent Neil Gaiman has contributed to the creation of the second installment, as it’s adapted from one of his own DC comic books.
Simultaneously with the confirmation, Netflix also unveiled a fresh summary for Season 2: “Dream of the Endless – following a momentous reunion with his family – encounters an endless series of difficult choices as he endeavors to rescue himself, his realm, and the world at large from the catastrophic consequences of his past errors.
Given recent developments in the entertainment industry, it seems Gaiman finds himself in a difficult situation following various parties distancing themselves from him, as reported by Tortoise Media initially. Rumor has it that he offered to step down from the production team when the scandal broke out, but with his absence from this current season, one might question the appeal of watching a TV show based on a comic series often perceived as overrated. I’ve always been puzzled about what makes this particular series so unique that it warrants a live-action or animated adaptation. The AV Club puts it simply: “I’ll never understand…
It’s not shocking for several reasons, given that:
1. The titles associated with Neil Gaiman have been facing cancellations following disturbing accusations of sexual misconduct against him, as reported by media outlets such as Tortoise Media and Vulture.
2. For instance, a U.K. musical based on his novel Coraline has permanently closed down this week.
3. Disney and Netflix have both scrapped their adaptations of The Graveyard Book and Dead Boy Detectives respectively, while Amazon Prime Video transformed the upcoming third season of Good Omens into a single 90-minute episode with no further input from the author in question.
4. Furthermore, Dark Horse Comics has also severed ties with Gaiman, cancelling its ongoing adaptation of his 2005 novel Anansi Boys.
And Fandom Wire says:
Neil Gaiman, the well-known author who created The Sandman, Good Omens, and American Gods, is making headlines for troubling reasons. Eight women have claimed that he has engaged in sexual misconduct, abuse, and coercion. Reports of these incidents stretch over several decades, with one dating back to the 80s. The initial allegations surfaced in July 2024, and since then, Gaiman has found himself caught in a whirlwind of accusations. A once-celebrated figure in fantasy literature is now grappling with these serious claims.
Due to these unfortunate allegations, numerous projects linked to Gaiman’s writings have been put on hold or stopped. The individuals who allege they were victimized by Gaiman span from fans to those working with him. Despite the British author claiming that all sexual encounters were consensual, the numerous accusations of misconduct against him don’t strengthen his position. Regardless, he has certainly sustained significant harm to his reputation.
There’s no reason to sympathize with him. It’s disappointing when someone like him hides their true nature, but it’s a reminder that even our admired figures can have hidden flaws – that’s just life. Human beings aren’t perfect, and this situation serves as a lesson for us all.
CEO Today wrote an otherwise sugarcoated take on the issue:
Neil Gaiman, a significant figure in contemporary literature, has spellbound countless readers with his creative narratives that span various platforms, encompassing books, comics, movies, and television. His unique talent for intertwining the bizarre and magical with profoundly human issues has amassed him a global fan base. However, controversy has arisen around Gaiman due to claims of inappropriate behavior, resulting in the scrapping of his eagerly awaited musical rendition of Coraline. Thus, let’s delve into who Neil Gaiman is and how these allegations have impacted his professional journey.
In my opinion, writing surreal fantasy can be captivating, but certain storylines in some works became excessively violent, which included graphic sexual violence and disturbing scenes. It’s questionable if such content is necessary for adult entertainment. It’s intriguing to observe that there have been critics who disapprove of surrealism, yet their objections were scarce when authors like Gaiman were popularizing the genre. As for human themes, I find it ironic since the way Gaiman portrayed Morpheus’ relationships with Lyta and Hector in Sandman was offensive to my sensibilities, as was his handling of sexual offenders in issues 14 and 17. There were other instances in other comics he wrote that were equally distressing. Similarly, the character Coraline also raised concerns due to some problematic aspects.
Nevertheless, it’s his 2002 dark fantasy novel “Coraline” that has undeniably secured him as a notable figure in children’s literature. Initially, “Coraline” was perceived as too scary for young readers, but the book eventually became an adored classic and garnered multiple literary accolades such as the Hugo, Nebula, Bram Stoker Awards. The triumph of “Coraline” paved the way for a 2009 animated film adaptation, which received a BAFTA award and was nominated for an Academy Award.
Could one speculate whether an author who wrote a story with more optimistic undertones could have achieved the recognition Neal Gaiman garnered two decades ago? If not, it becomes evident what might be lacking, including the fact that Gaiman’s work often delved into darker themes throughout his career. But how did he manage to gain such popularity?
Neil Gaiman’s rise to prominence is primarily due to his skill in combining different genres, making his work appealing to both young readers and adults alike. His early experiences as a journalist honed his writing abilities, but it was his comic book creations that truly marked him out from the crowd. The Sandman series significantly impacted the comic book industry, pushing its artistic and literary boundaries. With his unique blend of mythological allusions, gothic horror elements, and philosophical undercurrents, Gaiman’s writing rapidly expanded beyond the comic book realm, resonating with a broader audience of literature aficionados.
As a movie enthusiast, I’d like to point out that he started penning short stories concurrently with his journalism stint. One of those he penned three decades ago was “Snow, Glass, Apples”, a twisted take on the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs tale, where the princess is portrayed as something akin to a vampire. To elaborate further seems unnecessary. In essence, this story was meant for a fundraising drive or some other purpose for the CBLDF, an organization so insincere that no one should ever consider their services for comic-related cases.
Gaiman’s latest predicament has sparked debate on whether allegations can tarnish even the most illustrious artists. Despite his denial of any misconduct, the fallout from these accusations might linger on his reputation for a while. It remains unclear how this uproar could influence his upcoming works and connections within the industry.
[…] Nevertheless, the current claims could potentially alter the way Gaiman is viewed by both his admirers and the professional world. Despite being one of the most acclaimed writers of this generation, the upcoming months might serve as a critical juncture in his career, as he strives to manage the consequences of the accusations while continuing his artistic endeavors.
It seems unlikely I’ll have much time for “artistic endeavors” in the near future, especially after learning about the recent development with the Good Omens graphic novel Kickstarter project. Apparently, Neil Gaiman won’t receive any royalties from it.
It’s been decided that Neil Gaiman won’t earn any royalties from the Kickstarter graphic novel. Since the project administration, creation, and all communication have been managed by the Terry Pratchett Estate for the Good Omens series as a whole, this decision doesn’t alter the project significantly. However, we can verify that the Kickstarter and PledgeManager are now solely controlled and financially tied to the Terry Pratchett Estate.
It’s clear that Gaiman didn’t do justice to Pratchett’s literary heritage by collaborating on the novel. Looking back, it seems like an error in judgment.
Moving on to another relevant point, The Babylon Bee recently penned a satirical piece about Neil Gaiman. In this article, they humorously suggested that Gaiman collaborated with radical Islamist groups who oversaw sexual abuse rings in cities such as Rotherham. While the piece does draw some intriguing comparisons, it’s essential to remember that sexual misconduct is a serious issue and should never be trivialized. Satire or parody doesn’t automatically make such content appropriate. Your reaction to this article may vary depending on your perspective.
It’s worth noting that the satire in Bee’s work raises a valid question about the authenticity of Gaiman’s advocacies. One might wonder where he was when innocent girls were being harmed by extremists within the Islamic community in Britain. His reluctance to openly condemn such acts of violence further solidifies the perception that he is not as genuine a feminist as he claims, and his past silence on this issue adds to his shortcomings. The fact that his silence speaks volumes is yet another reason why his decline may be beneficial.
Update: Erik Kain at Forbes addressed the subject, and at the end, he said:
As a movie enthusiast penning my thoughts, I must admit that the potential non-renewal of The Sandman by Netflix feels like another devastating blow to Neil Gaiman, following the surfacing of allegations. However, personally speaking, my indifference towards this cancellation is evident. I’ve been left unmoved by other Netflix cancellations, and in this case, I simply couldn’t connect with the first season and have yet to delve into the comics.
In my opinion, he’s not missing out on anything. The comics were rather crude and seemed to degrade several characters from the original DC Universe. They may have even set the stage for many of the negative events that unfolded in DC history later on. The claim that these stories were intended as homages to Shakespeare doesn’t make them any less problematic.
New Information: It has been confirmed that the reprint of The Sandman series’ 8th issue by DC Comics and Lunar Distribution is no longer happening, due to unspecified reasons. This could potentially signal a halt in the publication of paperback/hardcover editions of Neil Gaiman’s works by these publishers as well. Furthermore, it seems that the value of older issues of his comics on the speculation market may plummet following this news and any related scandal.
Related: Woman Who Broke Neil Gaiman Sex Scandal Never Wanted Him Cancelled
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2025-02-03 17:33