As fans are gearing up for the release of The Sandman on Netflix, we’re looking back at what could’ve been, as this DC comic book series by Neil Gaiman was almost adapted plenty of times.
Looking back through the years, it would seem like this adaptation, whether it be a TV show or movie, was never going to happen. While plenty of people wanted their hands on it, Warner Bros. went through multiple writers before ultimately landing on Allan Heinberg for the Netflix adaptation in 2019.
It’s truly been a long time in the making. Not only were fans of the comics frustrated to keep waiting but so was Gaiman, as it seemed nearly impossible to come up with a good script and someone passionate enough about the story to produce it. Gaiman summed it up pretty well during a 2007 Comic-Con panel (per Inquistir):
“I’d rather see no Sandman movie made than a bad Sandman movie. But I feel like the time for a Sandman movie is coming soon. We need someone who has the same obsession with the source material as Peter Jackson had with Lord of the Rings or Sam Raimi had with Spider-Man.”
By 2013, The Sandman made headlines again once it was reported Joseph Gordon-Levitt was on board to direct and/or star in a film adaptation. The Inception star soon took to Twitter to share his excitement about the news and to clarify that at that time, he had only signed on as a producer. Writer Jack Thorne was brought on to pen the script and David Goyer joined as a producer, signaling that progress was being made.
Fans of both the comics and Gordon-Levitt were intrigued about the project and happy to see the adaptation moving along once again. So what went wrong?
Why Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Sandman movie never happened
The same week in 2016 that it was announced writer Eric Heisserer was hired to work on The Sandman script, Variety reported that Joseph Gordon-Levitt had stepped away. It came as a shock to fans keeping a close eye on the adaptation, especially because the reason given was “due to disagreement with the studio.”
Apparently, Gordon-Levitt had issues with New Line taking over the project, and wrote a very lengthy statement on his Facebook explaining his decision. He said in this 2013 post:
“I was pleased with the progress we were making, even though we still had quite a ways to go. Recently, as you also might know if you like to follow these sorts of things, the sorta ‘ownership’ (for lack of a better term) of the Sandman material changed hands when Warner Brothers shifted the entire catalogue of Vertigo comics (an imprint of DC) to their subsidiary, New Line. And a few months ago, I came to realize that the folks at New Line and I just don’t see eye to eye on what makes Sandman special, and what a film adaptation could/should be. So unfortunately, I decided to remove myself from the project. I wish nothing but the best for the team moving forward.”
Fortunately, Gaiman didn’t seem to take the decision personally, making sure to clarify his opinion of Gordon-Levitt via Twitter soon after. “And, for the record, my respect for [Joseph Gordon-Levitt] is undiminished,” he tweeted. “Getting to know him was the best bit of the last round. He’s special.”
So, there you have it. Joseph Gordon-Levitt ultimately didn’t get along with those working at New Line and he didn’t feel he could continue on with The Sandman that way. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the last failed Sandman project. The good news, of course, is that the new adaptation is finally on its way. And it’s got an awesome cast including some Game of Thrones actors.
Everything happens for a reason, as they say, so let’s keep our fingers crossed the upcoming Netflix show is a hit. Though The Sandman does not have a release date yet, filming has reportedly wrapped.
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