These days, even successful Netflix shows can’t be sure whether they’ll be renewed; look no further than 1899 and Resident Evil, both of which were axed after one season. Thankfully, The Sandman didn’t suffer the same fate, although its long-awaited renewal did come with one mysterious caveat: Netflix didn’t label it as “season 2.”
So if it’s not a new season, what exactly are we getting? Well, it seems like the streamer favors releasing new episodes in batches rather than dropping new seasons. Presumably, this is because the comic series shifts tone and direction enormously between volumes. Clumping them together would only serve to confuse fans. One of the main issues newcomers had with season 1 was the sudden shift in story between “Preludes and Nocturnes” and “The Doll’s House.” We could see more surprise drops like the bonus episode “A Dream of a Thousand Cats/Calliope,” which landed a few weeks after season 1 premiered.
Appearing at a Fan Expo in San Francisco, star Mason Alexander Park (Desire) noted that they will refrain from calling it season 2 until further notice. “Netflix has not gone on record as calling it a season 2 on purpose,” Park explained. “And so, I will, from now on and in the future, and possibly until the end of the universe not refer to it as season 2 until we know what it is.”
Whatever format it might take, The Sandman is definitely returning. “There is more Sandman coming in a really cool way and it can take many forms, so we’re starting shooting in the summer and we’re gonna tackle the next huge chunk of stories in however long that might take,” Park said. “And I’m really excited to share the format of what that might be with everybody eventually.”
So far, the show has only covered two volumes of the 10-volume comic. In the new episodes, we’re likely to see Morpheus return to Hell to once again confront Lucifer Morningstar. Plus, Morpheus will oversee William Shakespeare’s first performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream before an audience of fairies.
Neil Gaiman reassures fans that The Sandman is SAFE!
Amid more Netflix cancellations, The Sandman author Neil Gaiman has once again made it clear that the show is absolutely safe, barring a bizarre disaster.
When a fan raised concerns on Tumblr, Gaiman was quick to vanquish all doubt. “Netflix could go out of business before more Sandman launches,” he admitted. “A new, nightmarish pestilence could close the world down completely. The actors could all be eaten by weasels and the show would be shuttered. But if there’s a Netflix and nothing unforeseen and tragic happens to close the world or the show down, then there will be more Sandman.”
Expect to see new episodes air sometime in 2024. In the meantime, more Gaiman-verse projects are on their way. For instance, later this year Amazon Prime will release Good Omens season 2, based on the never-written sequel to the book of the same name by Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.
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