The cinematic universe concept has grown from relative obscurity to all-consuming ubiquity over only fifteen years. Every studio wants a chunk of the mountain of cash Marvel made with their comics-inspired crossover multiverse. Most studios have embarrassed themselves by failing to knock off the MCU. Viewers sick of their favorite shows chasing this trend may be dismayed to seeThe Sandmanfollow in those footsteps. Thankfully, they’ve built a universe before.
Neil Gaiman’sSandmanseries underwent one of history’s most difficult transitions from the page to the screen. The adaptation that reached Netflix was almost universally celebrated.After months of uncertainty, the show was granted a second season. While fans waited, Netflix announced another troubled series,Dead Boy Detectives, and then quickly mentioned its direct association with the story of Dream and Death.
What is theSandman Universe?
The Sandman Universeis a comic book line that dropped in 2018 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Neil Gaiman’s beloved series. It wasn’t a reboot of the franchise. Instead,it reawakenedSandmanafteryears spent asleep. Gaiman sought to give the world new adventures with Dream and his siblings, but he also wanted to hand control of some of his characters to other voices. Authors like Nalo Hopkinson, Kat Howard, and Dan Watters stepped in to revamp or reignite characters and comic brands that had been absent for years. It expanded to the once-prominentSandmancorner of the wider DC Universe.Sandmanwas always closely tied to other DC icons. Two months after the series debuted, DC cross-promotedSandmaninSwamp ThingandHellblazer. Those three stories would remain intertwined for decades. Beyond attaching itself to other existing brands,Sandmangenerated spin-offs with almost stunning frequency.
Several characters fromThe Sandmanearned solo projects. Some went on for years, while others were one-shot issues that handed a minor figure the spotlight. DC Vertigo launched four ongoing spin-off series.The Dreamingfollows minor characters from Dream’s realm as they struggle against supernatural threats and mundane problems.Luciferdepicts the titulargentleman devil after he abandons Hell to open a jazz club.Sandman Mystery Theaterresurrects the Golden Age Sandman, Wesley Dodds, for a film-noir detective series. Finally,Dead Boy Detectivesfollows two ghost children who eschew the afterlife to solve supernatural mysteries. Those four spin-offs expanded the franchise with hundreds of new stories. Now thatThe Sandmanhas found small-screen success, it can bring some connected narratives to Netflix.
What could theSandman Universeinclude?
The trouble with adapting theSandmanUniverseto Netflix is that they’ve already created shows out of several of its stories without connecting them.Tom Kapinos’Lucifercentersaround an alternate version of Neil Gaiman’s Lucifer.The Sandmancast Gwendoline Christie in the role, though it’s unlikely Netflix would want to launch a second show with the same title and premise.Locke & Keyalso appeared in theSandman Universecollections despite being initially unrelated to Gaiman’s story. Those two stories aside,The Sandman Universecould expand beyond the first two outings. Here’s a short list of comics in the franchise:
These series couldn’t all make it to Netflix. Those already occupying the service are eliminated, but its fans are unlikely to see something likeThe Dreaming. It could make for an interstitial series or side story withinThe Sandman.Books of Magicwould be an excellent anthology showcase for lesser-known figures in the DC Universe, though that would be more easily housed over at HBO Max.Dead Boy Detectivescould premierebefore theSandmanstorythat would have introduced the characters. That show was initially scheduled to play on Max, where it would serve as a spin-off toDoom Patrol. They used the Detectives first. This suggests that theSandman Universebrand may be a more spur-of-the-moment decision. One made not to chase the cinematic universe gimmick but to connect shows that might otherwise flounder. That could change the trajectory of the idea.
Fans may never see theSandman Universelogo afterDead Boy Detectiveshits Netflix. The brand is more famous for canceling shows than it is for making them. Netflix doesn’t have a cinematic universe in the MCU model today. Reaching toward lesser-known comic books is a clever strategy to create something similar. Many viewers are sick of comic book movies, but fans trust Neil Gaiman and a namelikeDead Boy Detectiveswon’t register within the genre. TheSandman Universehas a lot of potential, but its first extension’s success will likely predict its future.
