Netflix has released a behind-the-scenes video for its upcoming live-action Sandman series, and while it doesn't show any footage from the show just yet, it offers a look at how the production design and effects teams are faithfully recreating some of the most important objects and places from the Sandman comics' first two story arcs.
Here's a guide to the significance of these items and locations and what the preview shows us of them.
The Magdalene Grimoire
In Sandman's first story arc, "Preludes and Nocturnes," Dream is taken captive by the occultists Roderick and Alex Burgess, who were trying to summon Death but ended up with her brother by mistake. The magical tome they used for this ritual is the Magdalene Grimoire, also known as the Liber Fulvarum Paginarum. Netflix's preview video offers a look at several pages of the book.
The Dream Ruby
When Dream is taken captive, his three symbols of power are stolen from him -- and once he breaks free, he goes on a mission to get these important items back. All three of these symbols of power contain part of his own essence and thus can recharge his energy when he's weakened. One of these valuables is the Materioptikon, AKA the Dream Ruby, the most powerful of the 12 dreamstones. This talisman ends up in the hands of the classic DC supervillain Doctor Destiny, AKA John Dee, who is being played by David Thewlis in the Netflix adaptation.
Pouch of Sand
He goes by many names -- Dream, Morpheus, Kai'ckul, Oneiros -- but the main character of Sandman is also called the Sandman, so it only makes sense that one of his symbols of power would be, well, sand. The sand Dream carries in this pouch, as in the traditional Sandman myths, has the power to provide people with sleep and dreams -- and when it gets lost in the human world, it's used as a powerful narcotic.
Helmet of Dreams
The Helmet of Dreams is another one of Dream's symbols of power. A helm crafted from the bones of a defeated god, it both offers the wearer protection and serves as a warning to Dream's enemies. Its appearance is similar to an old-fashioned gas mask, one of Dream's few visual echoes of DC's very different Golden Age Sandman character Wesley Dodds, who was granted some of Dream's power while the Endless was imprisoned.
Dream's Castle's Undercroft
In his personal realm of Dreaming, Dream resides within a castle that regularly changes form depending on the mood of the scene. That shifting nature is sure to make this set one of the biggest challenges for Sandman's production design team. The preview video offers a glimpse at a fraction of the castle, showing Neil Gaiman wandering around the castle's undercroft in a state of awe and amazement.
Lucifer's Palace
Dream's quest for his symbols of power in "Preludes and Nocturnes" leads him down to Hell, a place that becomes ever more important in later story arcs. Sandman's interpretation of Lucifer has already inspired a TV series of its own, with the titular Lord of Hell played by Tom Ellis. In the Netflix Sandman adaptation, the role is being played by Gwendolyn Christie. The preview video offers a few glimpses at Lucifer's palace, both as concept art and as a fully furnished set.
The "Cereal Convention"
Sandman's second story arc, "The Doll House," is one of the series' darkest and most horrific volumes, in which the eye-eating nightmare creature Corinthian (played by Boyd Hollbrook in the Netflix series) is loose on Earth and attends a convention for serial killers. Netflix's preview video offers a brief glimpse at the convention, given the inconspicuous official name of the "Cereal Convention."
BONUS: Matthew the Raven
Obviously, Dream's raven Matthew (voiced by Patton Oswalt in the Netflix series) is neither an object nor a location, but a character -- but it's worth noting that he's being portrayed using actual objects. Rather than relying on CGI as one might expect, the behind-the-scenes footage shows that Matthew is going to be brought to life through puppetry and animatronics. Other Sandman creatures, such as the gargoyles Goldie and Gilbert, are showcased as sculpts and concept art in the video, though it's unclear whether they'll end up being practical or digital effects creations.
Executive produced and co-written by Neil Gaiman and David S. Goyer, Netflix's The Sandman stars Tom Sturridge as Dream, Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer, Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne, Boyd Holbrook as The Corinthian, Charles Dance as Roderick Burgess, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Asim Chaudhry as Cain and Abel, Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death, Mason Alexander Park as Desire, Donna Preston as Despair, Jenna Coleman as Johanna Constantine, Niamh Walsh as Young Ethel Cripps, Joely Richardson as Ethel Cripps, David Thewlis as John Dee, Kyo Ra as Rose Walker, Stephen Fry as Gilbert, Razane Jammal as Lyta Hall, Sandra James Young as Unity Kincaid and Patton Oswalt as Matthew the Raven. The series has yet to receive a premiere date.