Neil Gaiman talks Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Sandman, who he’d like as Morpheus

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Earlier this month we got a small update on the long-awaited adaptation of Neil Gaiman's THE SANDMAN where we learned the film is still moving forward with SIN CITY actor and DON JON director Joseph Gordon-Levitt at the helm. And while it has been assumed that Gordon-Levitt would also be starring in the film as the main character Morpheus, that doesn't appear to be the case after all.

In an interview with the Radio Times, SANDMAN creator Neil Gaiman seems to have confirmed that Gordon-Levitt won't be pulling double duty as both director and star, and even offered some ideas of who he'd love to see tackle the role of Morpheus. Says Gaiman…

It’s a funny thing with Morpheus. Again, it’s that thing where you look around and think, ‘Yes this person would be a fantastic person’, and then time passes… There was a time Johnny Depp would’ve been a great Morpheus, but now he’s too old and it’s fine. I think the first time I saw Benedict [Cumberbatch] was as Sherlock Holmes, I thought, ‘wow, that’s incredibly Morpheus’. And fans probably thought the same because they immediately started doing fan-art, meshing the two of them up.”

“Then again, Tom Hiddleston is still out there! And the truth is, as far as I’m concerned, anybody who sounds English with great cheekbones can probably pull it off.”

I know it's so cliche to day it, but I'd watch Hiddleston read the phone book (do those even still exist?), so the idea of having him take on the role of Morpheus is more than enough to get me stoked for this adaptation.

Gaiman also spoke on having more input on the film version of his classic character and his faith in Gordon-Levitt leading the charge to make it happen, stating…

My position on it has always been, for over 25 years now, I would rather see no Sandman movie than a bad Sandman movie… I’m just happy that no bad Sandman movie has ever been made. But I’m really hoping that a good one will be. They’re a good team. And with Joseph Gordon-Levitt in charge, his instincts are good and he loves the material. He wants it to be true to the material.

Gordon-Levitt has expressed his desire to make Gaiman happy with the adaptation, previously stating that Gaiman is "the one I want to please most" with the film. I feel THE SANDMAN is in good hands.

Gaiman also confirmed that he has played a “vital” role in shaping the story, with another updated version of the script coming his way for him to dissect shortly:

“Every now and then I’ll come in, and last time I was in was earlier this year, spending a day in a hotel room with Joe, and going over everything and answering questions with him and so on and so forth. So they’ve written a script. I got a phone call about two, three weeks ago from Joe and David saying, ‘Jack did a script, we read it, we want some things done to it. We want you to see it, but not this version. The next version will be in three weeks and then you’ll be the first person to see it.’ So I am now a week before seeing the script. It’s going to come in just before Christmas. I’m nervous, I’m on tenterhooks. But do I have good feelings? Yeah I do.”

I'm actually quite excited for THE SANDMAN, which…

…shifts between horror and fantasy, and the central character is Morpheus, the personification of dreams. After being held captive 70 years, Morpheus escapes, gains revenge and rebuilds his crumbling kingdom while trying to adapt to the times.

More on THE SANDMAN as we hear it.

Hiddleston as Morpheus? I can certainly see it!