The Sandman may ditch Netflix's traditional binge model for its upcoming second season.
Speaking with Variety, Peter Friedlander, Netflix’s head of U.S. and Canada scripted series, said that "Everything is on the table when it comes to Sandman," including splitting up the release of new episodes. It's a method the streaming service has used before with Stranger Things Season 4, releasing the first seven episodes of the season on May 27, 2022, with the remaining two episodes dropping a little over a month later. A second season of The Sandman was ordered in November 2022, several months after the first season premiered.
The Sandman is based on the critically-acclaimed DC Comics series of the same name that was created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg and published between 1989 and 1996. The first season initially consisted of 10 episodes, covering the events of the comic's first two story arcs, Preludes & Nocturnes and The Doll's House. A bonus eleventh episode adapting the first two issues of the third story arc, Dream Country, was later added. Season 1 centered on Morpheus, the Dream King and one of the seven Endless, as he escaped imprisonment and set out to restore order to his realm, the Dreaming.
The Sandman Is Returning for Another Season
Although The Sandman was favorably received by both critics and audiences immediately upon release, Netflix waited almost three months before ordering a second season. Friedlander has since revealed why the streamer held off on quickly announcing a Season 2 renewal for The Sandman, explaining, "We wanted to spend the time to get creatively aligned around what would be the next, best experience with The Sandman. And because of that, we wanted to spend the time with [showrunner Allan Heinberg] and Neil [Gaiman] and really talk through and be thoughtful about what the approach should be -- because Season 1 is also very thoughtful and intentional. So that was really what took the extra time, is to get our ducks in a row."
While it is unknown at this time when The Sandman Season 2 will release on Netflix, executive producer David S. Goyer has revealed that the writers' room is already working on additional scripts for the Netflix fantasy drama series. Gaiman has also been drumming up hype for the next season, offering hints to the fandom about what they can expect from the next batch of episodes. Two characters that were not featured in Season 1 but Gaiman has confirmed will appear in Season 2 are the comic's groundbreaking transgender character, Wanda Mann, and the youngest member of the Endless, Delirium.
The Sandman Season 1 is available to stream on Netflix.
Source: Variety