Netflix will bring their adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman to a graceful end after its second season later this year. According to Variety, showrunner Allan Heinberg knew that the series would only sustain two entries. He stated, “When we looked at the remaining Dream material from the comics, we knew we only had enough story for one more season.” The somewhat sudden announcement led many fans to question whether the recent allegations against writer Neil Gaiman played a part in the show’s demise.
Netflix’s The Sandman Enters The Sunless Lands After Season Two
The Sandman took ages to reach the screen. It was a tremendous labor to weed out all the terrible takes on the material, but it was probably worth it. Netflix’s adaptation is excellent, and most of the fans celebrated its success. The show was, however, extremely expensive for a TV show, leaving its fate uncertain. Showrunner Allan Heinberg promised a solid conclusion in the second season, but nothing to follow. Netflix is somewhat notorious for cutting shows short, but this series will allegedly reach its ideal ending. The first season covered most of the first volume of the graphic novel. The follow-up will likely do the same for the second collection, but it will also tie things up. This allows Netflix to end the series without completely alienating fans. It’s a wiser call than the streamer usually makes, but it’s hard to imagine that this was a coincidence.
Sandman author Neil Gaiman currently faces several sexual assault allegations from multiple women. Lila Shapiro’s bombshell New York Magazine piece, “There Is No Safe Word,” revealed heartbreaking conversations with his alleged victims. No charges have been filed as of this writing, and Gaiman denies the accusations, but the stories are hard to ignore. The end of The Sandman comes on the heels of a mountain of other similar conclusions. Just about everything Gaiman was working on or attached to either shut down or kicked him out. His Good Omens will now end with a 90-minute finale rather than a third season. A Coraline musical and an adaptation of The Graveyard Book both went out the window. Even Dark Horse Comics parted ways with the author. While Netflix and Heinberg have a solid explanation for The Sandman‘s cancellation, fans will always quietly believe that Gaiman’s alleged misdeeds are to blame.
The Sandman was an excellent show, but learning dark truths about a creator can truly ruin great art. Neil Gaiman’s career is probably over, but nothing will ever right the wrongs he committed. At the very least, the author’s downfall might remove one powerful predator from his protected position. Whether it’s ending because the showrunner sees a fitting conclusion or because its creator forever tarnished his legacy, The Sandman will take Death’s hand and fly away after its second season.
