Netflix has revealed the rating for its upcoming adaptation of The Sandman.
According to the streaming service, The Sandman will be rated TV-MA due to language, violence and sex. This is not likely to come as a surprise to readers of the original comic book, which is generally geared towards "mature" readers due to its content. In recent years, The Sandman has even been re-published under DC's Black Label imprint, which primarily features stories geared towards an older audience.
Written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by such artists as Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg, The Sandman ran from 1989 until 1996. The series focuses on Dream/Morpheus, a member of the seven Endless. At the start of the series, he finds himself imprisoned by the Order of Ancient Mysteries. Soon, he breaks free and sets about regaining his lost objects of power. At various points in his journey, he interacts with such characters as Lucifer and Death. Due to its themes and high-quality storytelling, The Sandman is often considered one of the greatest comic book series of all time.
There have been numerous attempts to adapt The Sandman over the past few decades, all of which have fallen through or languished in development hell for one reason or another. In the early 2010s, David S. Goyer, the writer behind such films as Blade, was tied to a film adaptation of the property starring Joseph Gorden-Levitt as Morpheus. However, due to problems with the script, Goyer eventually asked Warner Bros. to cancel the film and to instead do The Sandman as a streaming show.
In 2019, Netflix signed a deal with Warner Bros. to create a Sandman series. Filming on the project, which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, began in Oct. 2020 and concluded in Aug. 2021. Early looks at The Sandman have indicated the Netflix adaptation is faithful to the source material, though with updates. The Sandman's cast consists of, among others, Tom Sturridge as Morpheus/Dream, Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer, Boyd Holbrook as The Corinthian, Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death. These castings confirm statements from the production that The Sandman will adapt the "Preludes & Nocturnes" and "The Doll's House" storylines.
Developed by Gaiman, Goyer and Allan Heinberg, The Sandman does not yet have a release date. However, the project is expected sometime in 2022.
Source: Netflix