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Rise and shine. Nightmares and dreams are waiting eagerly in the epic fantasy series, The Sandman. To say the project has been a long time coming is a massive understatement, and the millions of fans who’ve patiently waited for decades finally got to see the iconic comic book characters come to life in 2022. The Sandman is a dark fantasy graphic novel series written by Neil Gaiman that was published by DC Comics' Vertigo imprint from 1989-1996. With multiple volumes, it’s a sprawling, epic story detailing the many adventures of Morpheus, also known as the king of dreams, the Sandman, or Dream of the Endless.
For any fan of the series, it's common knowledge that a screen adaptation has been in the works for a while and has been a nightmare all on its own. Dreams of adapting the series into a movie began all the way back in the early 90s to no avail, and Gaiman once again tried to adapt it into a film in the 2000s. Finally, the series received the royal streaming treatment as a sweeping, extravagant fantasy series with all the beloved characters in play. Gaiman is an acclaimed British dark fantasy novelist and has written the best-selling novels Coraline, The Graveyard Book, American Gods, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Good Omens, and Stardust. Alongside Gaiman, the series is developed by David S. Goyer and Allen Heinberg.
Tom Sturridge plays the lead role of Dream in The Sandman, the main protagonist who must readjust to life after being inhumanly imprisoned and stripped of his powers for over 100 years only to finally escape. Within the dreamy, wonderland-like world Gaiman has created with The Sandman, the character Dream is one of the seven Endless, a family-like group of powerful beings. There was much anticipation in finding out who would play the mysterious and at times devilish Dream, and Sturridge’s resume includes acting in films such as Mary Shelley (2017) and Far From the Maddening Crowd (2014). Sturridge is also a well-established stage actor and has received a Best Actor Tony Award nomination for his work in the Broadway play Orphans (2013).
Gwendoline Christie joins Sturridge as Lucifer Morningstar, the ruler of hell. The rest of the ensemble cast features Kirby Howell-Baptiste (The Good Place) as Death, Mason Alexander Park (Cowboy Bebop) as Desire, Donna Preston as Despair, Boyd Holbrook (Narcos) as the Corinthian, Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne, Charles Dance (Game of Thrones) as Sir Roderick Burgess, Sanjeev Bhaskar (Goodness Gracious Me) as Cain, Asim Chaudry as Abel, and Jenna Coleman (The Serpent) as Detective Johanna Constantine. The series also features voice actors Patton Oswalt as the voice of Matthew the Raven, Mark Hamill as Mervyn Pumpkinhead, and comedian Lenny Henry as the voice of Martin Tenbones. If you want to learn more about the cast and their respective roles, check out our cast and character guide. To learn more on how to watch the series, read on for where it's streaming, when it's out on Blu-ray, and more.
Editor's Note: This article was updated on September 9.
When and Where Was 'The Sandman' Released on Streaming?
The Sandman is a Netflix original series and is available for streaming exclusively on the streamer. If you don’t already have an existing account, you can subscribe and set up a monthly subscription on the site. The series premiered on August 5, 2022, and a second season is now in the works.
Is 'The Sandman' Getting Digital, DVD, and Blu-ray Releases?
In a move that underscores just how successful the show has been for Netflix, the streamer has announced that The Sandman Season 1 will be getting Digital, DVD, 4K Ultra HD, and Blu-ray releases. The digital release date for the season is September 18, 2023, while the DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD releases will arrive on November 28. Netflix rarely gives its shows and movies a physical media release (ironic, considering the streamer started out in the DVD-by-mail game) so this is a unique opportunity. The new releases will no doubt feature exciting bonus features, and we can't wait to get our hands on it. Stay tuned for more on this!
Watch the Stylistic Full-Length Trailer for 'The Sandman'
After living in relative secrecy since it was announced the series was coming to Netflix, The Sandman finally offered viewers a sneak peek of what’s to come with the first full-length trailer’s arrival in July 2022. Extremely sleek and bathed in darkness, the ominous look at the Netflix series offers Sturridge in action as Dream as he ventures into various realities while wearing his famous, signature black cape. It also introduces first looks at Lucifer, Death, the Corinthian, and various other players as Dream aims to rebuild his Dreaming world with the help of old friends while battling villainous figures who’d love nothing more than to seize control of both nightmares and dreams.
'The Sandman' Season 1 Episode List
Chapter 1: “Sleep of the Just”
Chapter 2: “Imperfect Hosts”
Chapter 3: “Dream a Little Dream of Me”
Chapter 4: “A Hope in Hell”
Chapter 5: “24/7”
Chapter 6: “The Sound of Her Wings”
Chapter 7: “The Doll’s House”
Chapter 8: “Playing House”
Chapter 9: “Collectors”
Chapter 10: “Lost Hearts”
Chapter 11 (Two-Part Bonus Episode): "Dream of a Thousand Cats"/"Calliope" - Released August 19, 2022
What Is the General Plot of The Sandman?
Sturridge stars as Dream, also known as the Sandman, and he rules over the land called the Dreaming, a place where he can create beautiful fantasies and terrifying nightmares in the shape of dreams. Once he’s captured and stripped of his powers for over 100 years, a chain of events is set off in the waking world, creating irreparable damage. After Dream escapes his capture, he makes it his mission to rebuild the Dreaming by traveling through time and space, which entails visiting both heaven and hell, as the dreaming world threatens to bleed into the waking world.
More Fantasy Titles like 'The Sandman' to Stream Next
If you don’t want to jump ships and prefer to stay on Netflix, try out the first season of the critically acclaimed fantasy series Shadow and Bone. Based upon both the Shadow and Bone book trilogy and Six of Crows duology written by Leigh Bardugo, the epic fantasy saga all takes place within the fantastical Grishaverse. Jessie Mei Li stars as Alina Starkov, a low-ranking member of the First Army in the repressive Ravka, a country divided into two thanks to a mysterious, massive black entity called the Shadow Fold. During a mission through the deadly fold, Alina unleashes powers she’s never known she had and discovers she’s a Grisha, a person with magical powers. Not only is she a Grisha, but she is a sun summoner, which means she can destroy the Shadow Fold. Once people discover her powers, Alina finds herself in danger as everyone from high positions of power to juvenile thieves seek her out to use her to their advantage.
Neil Gaiman is one of literature's most prolific fantasy writers, and he’s gifted readers with countless short stories, sprawling novels, and comic books. There are too many adaptations of his work to count, but if you want another mythical-like fantasy series to accompany The Sandman, the Prime Video Original Series Good Omens is the perfect place to start. Gaiman co-authored the novel with Terry Pratchett (Making Money) in 1990 and serves as the series creator and writer. Michael Sheen stars as the happy-go-lucky angel Aziraphale opposite a devilish David Tennant as the mischievous demon Crowley. Both have lived on earth since the beginning of time. When they discover the antichrist is bringing the apocalypse, the unlikely duo comes together in an attempt to stop it as they have come to enjoy their time indulging in human activities. A lighthearted comedy, the series serves as the perfect companion piece to The Sandman if you need a break from the dark side with all its unhinged monsters.
The world within The Sandman is vast with endless possibilities, and after finishing the show you can stay within that world thanks to the Fox-turned-Netflix original series, Lucifer. Loosely based on the DC comic book character Lucifer from The Sandman series and its follow-up spin-off series, the show begins after Lucifer has ditched hell and arrives in Los Angeles to run a devious nightclub called Lux. Tom Ellis portrays Lucifer, and he becomes a consultant for the LAPD as he helps them solve cases thanks to his various powers and ability to think like a criminal. Running for a total of six seasons, the series concluded on Netflix in September 2021.