In recent years, Neil Gaiman has seen many of his beloved works become outstanding TV shows, from The Sandman and Dead Boy Detectives to Good Omens and American Gods. His name is ubiquitous in the fantasy space, but amid numerous sexual assault allegations, adaptations of his works are starting to be affected. Notably, Disney has paused its live-action adaptation of The Graveyard Book.
The Graveyard Book follows Nobody "Bod," a young boy who seeks refuge in a graveyard after his parents are murdered. He meets ghosts who become his new family and he grows up in the graveyard. The book shares a striking resemblance to Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book...except with ghosts instead of jungle animals.
Disney's adaptation of The Graveyard Book was announced in 2022. Marc Forster (World War Z, Quantum of Solace) was on board to direct the movie, with David Magee (Life of Pi, The Little Mermaid) penning the script. Neil Gaiman himself was never directly involved. When the project was announced, Gaiman dismissed any involvement in a comment on his Tumblr, saying he has "no control or say" in the production.
While he may not be involved in the movie, the mere fact that it's based on his book is enough to give Disney pause. Clearly, Disney is less than keen to pursue the project further in the current climate, with sources telling IndieWire that the movie has been put on indefinite hold.
This isn't the first project linked to Neil Gaiman to be affected since the allegations. Just last month, Netflix axed Sandman spinoff series Dead Boy Detectives months after it premiered. While it's unclear whether Gaiman's allegations directly damaged the show, it can't have helped. Despite fantastic reviews, Dead Boy Detectives suffered from middling viewership numbers.
For those unaware, Neil Gaiman currently faces five sexual assault allegations. The five women shared their experiences with the disgraced author on a podcast from Tortoise Media. The allegations include him forcing them into non-consensual “rough and degrading” sex, trying to silence some with payouts and restrictive NDAs, and more.
Neil Gaiman's fall from grace will no doubt continue to cause ripple effects throughout the industry. Both fans and creatives involved in adapting his projects feel let down. It's time to separate the art from the artist, folks.
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