The Sandman: Creator Neil Gaiman hints at casting a new Constantine

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

The news dropped last week that Netflix's adaptation of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman had found its primary cast but noticeably absent from the list of characters was John Constantine. Gaiman addressed the issue with a fan on Twitter who seemed to be upset that the series was recasting roles such as Lucifer, played by Tom Ellis on the Netflix series of the same name but will be portrayed by Gwendoline Christie on The Sandman. While addressing the fan, Gaiman revealed that Constantine will also be getting a casting change that has yet to be announced.

Gaiman doesn't suggest who might be playing Constantine in The Sandman but his comment indicates that the character will play a role in the series as he does in the comic. It appears that fans were holding out hope that Matt Ryan would reprise his role as Constantine thanks to his central role on the short-lived NBC series that transitioned to him continuing the role in the wider Arrowverse, primarily on DC's Legends of Tomorrow. The actor has also provided vocals for the character for several DC animated efforts as well. It looks like Gaiman wants to go a different direction and we won't be seeing Ryan as Constantine and it seems doubtful that any Keanu Reeves stunt casting could happen in his reprisal of the role that he played in the 2005 film. It's easy to keep a fan favorite in the role but Gaiman clearly wants to make sure that The Sandman is its own thing.

Netflix describes The Sandman as "A rich blend of modern myth and dark fantasy in which contemporary fiction, historical drama and legend are seamlessly interwoven, The Sandman follows the people and places affected by Morpheus, the Dream King, as he mends the cosmic — and human — mistakes he's made during his vast existence." Tom Sturridge will lead as Dream, the Lord of the Dreaming, and Gwendoline Christie joins him as Lucifer, Ruller of Hell. Joining the ensemble of the dark fantasy drama are Vivienne Acheampong, Boyd Holbrook, Charles Dance, Asim Chaudhry, and Sanjeev Bhaskar.

Do YOU think The Sandman should recast Constantine or should the series stick with the current actor playing the role?