The Sandman showrunners revealed Netflix's support for the show's secret episode was what won them over to the streaming giant's side.

Executive producer David S. Goyer explained why The Sandman's creators were adamant on producing "Dream of a Thousand Cats/Calliope," a bonus episode included in but detached from the plot of Season 1. "The 'secret' 11th episode was conceived by [author Neil Gaiman] and [showrunner Allan Heinberg] and myself even before we pitched the show to buyers," Goyer said to Variety. "Anyone familiar with Sandman knows that there are all these incredible standalone issues interspersed throughout the original run and we were determined to adapt those." Goyer further explained Season 1's bonus episode provided a convenient outlet for those stories and simultaneously gave the series' creators a way to show their appreciation to The Sandman fans.

Related: The Sandman: Netflix Surprises Fans With a Brand New Two-Part Episode

The producer admitted that the plans for Episode 11 weren't normal for the industry, but he also believed it was "very much in spirit with Neil's unconventional run." He continued, "We had many offers to make Sandman amongst the buyers -- but Netflix was the only one that agreed to make the 'secret' episode. And truthfully, that was one of the major reasons we went with Netflix. We felt they got it in a way the others didn't. We told them we wanted to tackle 'Dream of a Thousand Cats' first and that we wanted it to be animated. And you could see the fear rising in most of the buyers' eyes. Netflix didn't flinch."

'The Sandman' Season 2 Hasn't Been Greenlit

Though fans were thrilled to see more of The Sandman when the bonus episode released, it may be some time before the show returns to the small screen, being that Gaiman has revealed that no additional special episodes are scheduled for Season 1. He also denied rumors claiming Episode 11 was intended as a soft confirmation of an upcoming Season 2, stating online that Netflix wanted to monitor the show's performance during its first month before deciding whether it will pursue future projects with the franchise.

Related: The Sandman's Neil Gaiman Gives Himself an Apt Cereal Convention Handle

'The Sandman' Creators Remain Hopeful for a Season 2 Renewal

While Netflix is still pondering its options, The Sandman's creators are optimistic regarding the show's chances for renewal. Before Season 1 released in early August, Goyer claimed they had begun working on the scripts for the yet-to-be-confirmed Season 2. Gaiman reportedly shared his co-executive producer's excitement, as the renowned author stated he was already building a list of actors who he believed could fit the roles of Dream's siblings, Destruction and Delirium. The writer also promised fans that Season 2 would adapt a rematch between Morpheus (Tom Sturridge) and Lucifer Morningstar (Gwendoline Christie).

All 11 episodes of The Sandman Season 1 are available to stream on Netflix.

Source: Variety