Fans of Neil Gaiman's classic horror/fantasy series THE SANDMAN have been begging for a big-screen adaptation for years and now it looks like the project is a 'go' with Joseph Gordon-Levitt finalizing a deal to produce alongside David Goyer, according to Deadline.
It has been rumored that Gordon-Levitt might star, and the deal he’s making attaches him as the protagonist Dream. There is also a strong indication that Gordon-Levitt is eyeing the project as a directing vehicle.
The Sandman series 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.
Critically acclaimed, THE SANDMAN is one of the few graphic novels ever to be on the New York Times Best Seller list, and was one of five graphic novels to make Entertainment Weekly's "100 best reads from 1983 to 2008", ranking at 46.
Deadline indicates that the search is currently on for a writer, so it looks like Goyer is going to stick with the role of producer on this one.
Gordon-Levitt tweeted confirmation of his involvement and also gave an indication as to the possible story arc that will serve as the basis of the film, shooting out the following tweet:
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm incredibly honored to be working with David Goyer, Warner Bros, and @neilhimself on SANDMAN. #Prelude
The "prelude" in question could likely be the Preludes and Nocturnes story line, wherein Dream is captured and, upon release, must hunt down three objects of power in order to restore his realm (The Dreaming), which has withered during his entrapment. That would serve as a logical starting point for a potential franchise, but it may be a while before we have any word on what the plot of the film will be.
Still, this is exciting news for any fan of THE SANDMAN. We'll keep you posted on news regarding this adaptation as we hear it.