After spending decades in development hell, a live-action adaptation of the Neil Gaiman comic book series The Sandman finally emerged into the world as a Netflix series back at the start of August. (Read our review HERE.) Three months later, Netflix ordered more of The Sandman – but fans noticed that they didn’t say it was going to be “a new season” or “season 2” of the show. Instead, Netflix said, “The Sandman will return with new episodes based on multiple volumes of the Neil Gaiman graphic novel to explore even more stories of the Endless.” Variety managed to score an interview with Netflix’s head of scripted TV in the US and Canada, Peter Friedlander, and during their conversation they asked Friedlander why The Sandman season 2 wasn’t announced as season 2.
They asked, “It’s not called Season 2 because it’s going to be handled more in line with the comics, where it’s ‘volumes’ and based on the story in the issues, rather than being labeled as a season? Is that it?”. Friedlander replied, “There are decisions that haven’t been made, but we are considering batching approaches. Everything’s on the table when it comes to Sandman. It’s an innovative show. The Sandman always follows his own path. I do really believe that. The show, I think, was so popular because it was such a discovery and it was such an invention. That’s what we’re trying to honor as we continue to tell this story, and it shouldn’t follow any path other than its own. And I genuinely believe that, and I want to help tell the story in that way with Neil and showrunner Allan Heinberg, and protect the storytelling so it’s the best experience it can be. And so part of that is also just keeping it secret till we know more!“
So it sounds like future episodes of The Sandman could be released in unique batches based on storylines, possibly with more bonus episodes like the eleventh episode that was added to Netflix two weeks after the first season’s ten episodes were released. Or we could just get a straightforward season 2 after all. We’ll have to wait and see.
Are you a fan of The Sandman? What would you like to see happen as the show continues? Let us know by leaving a comment below.