The budget for the Netflix adaptation of The Sandman recently emerged -- and as expected, the DC adaptation wasn't cheap to make.

Netflix shelled out as much as $15 million per episode, according to figures reported by Deadline. With The Sandman Season 1 set to run for 11 episodes, this means the show's overall budget could be as high as $165 million. It's worth noting this number only includes production costs and not marketing expenses, so The Sandman's total price tag could be potentially much bigger.

Related: The Sandman: Netflix's Ambitious DC Series Debuts First Look at Lucienne

Despite Netflix's considerable financial outlay on The Sandman, rumors continue to swirl that the streamer has canceled the series. Proponents of this theory point to the lack of a full-length trailer or official release date as signs the show is in trouble. The full supporting cast has also yet to be announced, with actors still to be confirmed for fan-favorite characters like Merv Pumpkinhead -- another red flag for worried fans.

Neil Gaiman, who co-created the original comic book series and is an executive producer on the show, recently debunked rumors of The Sandman's cancelation, however. Gaiman branded speculation about the series' premature demise "hilarious," insisting that The Sandman not having a launch date wasn't cause for concern.

Related: Netflix Gives Sandman TV-MA Rating for Language, Violence, Sex

A cryptic tweet from the official Sandman account appears to support Gaiman's position. "Hello humans, has your sleep been troubled in my absence?" the tweet read. This is seemingly a reference to both the plot of The Sandman's first season, in which protagonist Morpheus is held captive for decades, and a tacit reference to the account's months of inactivity. Whether the tweet marks the start of a renewed promotional campaign for the series remains unclear.

Something that does seem more certain is that a mooted crossover between The Sandman and another Netflix comic book adaptation, Locke & Key, isn't happening. Fans began lobbying for the two properties to overlap on the small screen following the publication of Sandman/Locke & Key by DC and IDW in 2021. Locke & Key co-creator Joe Hill shot down the possibility of this crossover being recreated in live-action, saying, "I’ve seen a few articles now teasing the possibility of a Locke & Key/Sandman crossover on Netflix & thought I'd jump in for a clickbait check. Nope! Like most Sandman hardcores I'm looking forward to a big, sweeping, faithful adaptation of Neil's stories. Can’t wait."

The Sandman does not yet have a release date.

Source: Deadline