Sandman Movie Is A Go, Joseph Gordon-Levitt Is Producer

[Pinkamena]

I haven't even heard of this series. Can someone give me the basic gist of it?

Oh man, is this gonna be hard. >_<

Uh, the gist of it is that there are seven anthropomorphic personifications of...reality and life called the Endless who exist as really dysfunctional siblings. There's Destiny, Death, Dream, Destruction, Desire, Despair, and Delirium. The series follows Dream when he's called down and imprisoned by a cult for several decades, follows his escape and attempt to rebuild his kingdom, and explores the immense political and emotional fallout in the spiritual worlds that came from having one of the Endless sealed away for so long. There's fairies (old school variety), gods, monsters, and just about pretty much any kind of mythical creature involved as characters. Even Lucifer plays an important role.

In short, it's really weird, quite often disturbing, but really (and I mean really) good.

Fascinating! I will see if I can find it somewhere.

 

[TakerFoxx]

Fascinating! I will see if I can find it somewhere.

It's really popular, so they should have it at most places where graphic novels are sold.

 

[Realitycrash]

I do not approve. Sandman has way too many details and subplots for it to make a decent movie. It would make a great SERIES, but a movie? The movie would butcher it, just like the movie did with Hellblazer. Unless we get a full Harry Potter-seven-movies-miniseries, this isn't going to end well.

 

[Rag Doll]

I'm not sure that the Sandman would work as a film. The stories are quite slow, thoughtful and full of small whimsical jokes hidden away in the background. I would have thought Sandman would have worked better as a TV show. There is only one person who can play Dream, its just got to be Benedict Cumberbatch.

First reaction: "Huh, a fanboy. You can't just have Benedict Cumberbatch in every..."
Second: "..yOHGODHESRIGHT!!!"

Also, due to the narrative quirks and tricks used, Sandman will always work best as a comic. They truly do need a good director.

On another note. Preludes and Nocturnes isn't the best is a good introductory story, but isn't exactly THE Sandman story in the same way something like "Doll's House" or "Kindly ones", Nor does it feature certain immortal englishman.

Best case scenario: The project is made with a LOTR level attention to right casting and effects, with a compelling narrative that captures the otherworldly feel of the comics, along with appropriate mix of fantasy and strong characters.

Worst case: Selling this like an action flick. (Stupid, considering the comic, but I wouldn't put it past hollywood) Joseph "Don Jon" Gordon-Levitt as Morpheus, mystical personification of Dreaming. making it just action or just horror(worse: Making the film BORING)
And, of course: If the film just gets stuck in developement hell.

 

[Nghtgnt]

No, we don't know which part of the story Gordon-Levitt's team will be focusing on. If it's any help, he's been using the hashtag #Prelude in his Tweets, which may be a Preludes and Nocturnes reference.

There's also a slight possibility that it could be the current Sandman series, which is supposed to ultimately explain how he was weakened enough to get captured at the beginning of the original series, and why he was decked out in all his battle gear.

But yeah, as mentioned above it seems more likely to be about him getting free and recovering his battle gear.

As much as I'd like this movie to happen, I'm going to maintain a "I'll believe it when I see the previews" attitude

 

[Palindromemordnilap_v1legacy]

If you're a comic fan of the 1990s

Or indeed if you're a comic fan at all. I grew up in the nineties, sure, but only really got into comics that weren't my dad's from the seventies in the 2000s. And I can still recognise what a work of art the Sandman stories are

 

[Albino Boo]

I'm not sure that the Sandman would work as a film. The stories are quite slow, thoughtful and full of small whimsical jokes hidden away in the background. I would have thought Sandman would have worked better as a TV show. There is only one person who can play Dream, its just got to be Benedict Cumberbatch.

First reaction: "Huh, a fanboy. You can't just have Benedict Cumberbatch in every..."
Second: "..yOHGODHESRIGHT!!!"

Also, due to the narrative quirks and tricks used, Sandman will always work best as a comic. They truly do need a good director.

On another note. Preludes and Nocturnes isn't the best is a good introductory story, but isn't exactly THE Sandman story in the same way something like "Doll's House" or "Kindly ones", Nor does it feature certain immortal englishman.

Best case scenario: The project is made with a LOTR level attention to right casting and effects, with a compelling narrative that captures the otherworldly feel of the comics, along with appropriate mix of fantasy and strong characters.

Worst case: Selling this like an action flick. (Stupid, considering the comic, but I wouldn't put it past hollywood) Joseph "Don Jon" Gordon-Levitt as Morpheus, mystical personification of Dreaming. making it just action or just horror(worse: Making the film BORING)
And, of course: If the film just gets stuck in developement hell.

Cumberbatch looks the part and has the voice for Dream. He has the ability to do the intensity and oddness that the part requires. I do think they have to start with Preludes and Nocturnes because it lays down the roots of many of the plots to come. The whole Rose Walker plot line ultimately relies on events in Preludes and Nocturnes. As to the best format, given a little more time to think , I suspect the way to go would be hand drawn animation. You could maintain the feel and look of Sandman while adding movement.

 

[Psychobabble]

Preludes and Nocturnes is probably the best entry level story. Throw in a dash of Doll House and you are set. You have your human every person to introduce to the world (Rose Walker) A bit of universe building. (Trip to hell) and a very creepy villain (Mix Dr. Dee & The Corinthian ) It could work with the right director.

Here's to hoping they make it through the rest of the series.

Odd... I would've put my money on this becoming the next HBO series...

not an actual in-theaters film.

Oh God, an HBO series would be excellent.

Well, assuming they gave it even a fraction of the care they normally give their programming.

Wow. Yeah gees, I can't even begin to comprehend how Sandman could work as a two hour movie. Well whatever they do I hope they avoid making another cinematic abortion like Constantine.

 

[TekMoney]

I do not approve. Sandman has way too many details and subplots for it to make a decent movie. It would make a great SERIES, but a movie? The movie would butcher it, just like the movie did with Hellblazer. Unless we get a full Harry Potter-seven-movies-miniseries, this isn't going to end well.

Hellblazer didn't have to be a bad movie. The first bunch of issues are single issue stories that are pretty self-contained. What made that movie not work was that the movie character was nothing like the comic character.

 

[Elijah Newton]

I haven't even heard of this series. Can someone give me the basic gist of it?

? Ah, my daily dose of, "I am really f*cking old*. Thank you, I might've forgotten. Teasing aside, I hope you find it and give it a go, I think it remains pretty solidly enjoyable. May I suggest starting with Seasons of Mists? IMHO it wasn't until Gaiman got Preludes and Nocturns out of his system that he figured out the voice he wanted to write in, and Seasons of Mists explains everything perfectly well as it goes along, so you'll not find yourself missing vital background.

Now geddafuggoffmahlawn, g'won, git!

Kids.

I read the series in my late teens, so it's a bit of a trick trying to cast for people now as opposed to then. F'rinstance, then my choice for Death was Fairuza Balk, whereas now I'm leaning towards, I dunno, Kaya Scodelario. Tom Hiddleston as Dream*... or, in an only slightly less serious take, Dylan Moran. Orlando Bloom as Desire. Rebel Wilson as Despair (hardly a flattering recommendation for any actor but I see her as having the skill and the confidence to pull it off). Andrew Scott as Lucifer**, based on his laugh alone and because they'd be damned fools not to start off with Seasons of Mist. Alan Cumming as Lucien. Alan Rickman as Destiny. Never got much of a clear read on Destruction, so eh, whomever.

Would dearly love to cast Constantine as anyone but Keanu Reeves. Rupert Graves would be my go-to, actually. A shade too old, maybe. But only just.

Also, while an HBO series would probably provide the best possible outcome, I think it's also quite likely to have a higher risk of mediocrity than if a studio commits to a movie, Hellraiser notwithstanding. ?besides, I want Preacher to be the Vertigo-to-tv thing.


* Yes, yes, Cumberbatch, I know. It stands to reason, he is in every other damn thing. But, for the sake of argument, let's think outside the box.

** ooh OOH! Or Benedict Cumberbatch!

 

[thebobmaster_v1legacy]

I'm not sure that the Sandman would work as a film. The stories are quite slow, thoughtful and full of small whimsical jokes hidden away in the background. I would have thought Sandman would have worked better as a TV show. There is only one person who can play Dream, its just got to be Benedict Cumberbatch.

He'd be my second choice. My first pick for Dream would be Keanu Reeves.

He even looks like the guy.

Spoiler: Big picture

Keanu Reeves as Morpheus? I like the idea, but pretty much anyone who's seen The Matrix would be utterly confused.

OT: OMG, holy shit, YES! I don't care if it's wrong for me to be excited for this movie, because I am! It's not like Hollywood hasn't taken rather subplot-driven comics and made them into good movies before.

 

[samahain]

I concur with the Cumberbatch proposition He can pull it off brilliantly, given good direction.
As for the writing, I still demand to be impressed. The Batman trilogy was nice, but this is different material.
The ambiance is just not the same; and obviously it cannot be made "realistic".

It cannot, right?

Maybe they'll re-write the stuff... It would be a MASSIVE mistake, but it's not uneard of.
I guess I'll see it when it comes out, if it comes out.

Just saying: Constantine should have been played by James Marsters (and at least partly set in England, of course).

 

[TakerFoxx]

Fascinating! I will see if I can find it somewhere.

It's really popular, so they should have it at most places where graphic novels are sold.

Where should I start?

The Doll House is considered when the series first came into its own, but Preludes and Nocturnes is where the story proper begins. It goes Preludes and Nocturnes->The Doll House->Dream Country->Season of Mists->A Game of You->Fables and Reflections->Brief Lives->World's End->The Kindly Ones->The Wake, with The Endless acting as a sort of side volume.