The Sandman teaser has arrived, and it’s a dream come true. Neil Gaiman’s critically acclaimed fantasy comedian has been an trade favourite because it was first printed in 1989. Now the collection can be delivered to life as a Netflix unique, debuting in full on August 5th. The teaser is likely to be lower than two minutes lengthy, however it’s given us sufficient imagery to maintain followers speaking for hours (and also you’d higher consider that they’re). From a lot beloved supporting characters to iconic moments from the collection to photographs that seem like they had been ripped straight from the web page, it’s a feast for followers…and it’s solely the start.
We’ll be speaking about The Sandman loads over the months forward, however for now, listed below are among the cool issues we caught within the Sandman trailer.
Dream Come True
If anyone had doubts about Tom Sturridge enjoying Morpheus, then this teaser put all of them to relaxation. Sturridge utterly owns the position, embodying all the things we love about Dream.
“I’m the king of desires. Ruler of the nightmare realm,” Sturridge says, and when he says it, we will’t assist however consider it. Along with his commanding voice, Sturridge captures the essence of Morpheus simply in how he appears on the digicam. Take a look at the glare he provides whereas he’s in captivity—that isn’t an actor, that’s Morpheus, Lord of the Dreaming.
Artwork Turns into Life
Among the photographs from this teaser had been direct recreations of Sam Keith’s iconic illustrations. Keith penciled the primary 5 problems with The Sandman, growing the signature appears for Morpheus and his kingdom. Not solely did the teaser seize Keith’s designs flawlessly, among the photographs gave the impression to be direct translations from a few of his most iconic panels. Take a look at The Sandman #1 as you watch the teaser. Kieth’s visible affect is clearly proper there on the display screen. The shot of Morpheus conjuring a portal appears prefer it leapt straight out of the comedian.
Sordid Sorcerer
We get a very good have a look at Jenna Coleman as Johanna Constantine, an occult investigator who’s about to have her fingers full. This additionally represents an intriguing departure from the supply materials. Johanna Constantine appeared in The Sandman comics as an ancestor of the sorcerer John Constantine, however this model of Johanna seems to reside in a contemporary setting. Coleman captures the aloof swagger we’ve come to anticipate from the Constantine bloodline, as she learns in regards to the return of Morpheus.
You Mad, Jo?
As for who Johanna is speaking to, why that’s Mad Hettie, a personality who was first launched in The Sandman #3. On the floor, Hettie could look like an unassuming transient—a homeless lady residing in London who spends the day muttering to herself. However there’s a far deeper which means to Hettie’s so-called insanity. When she says she’s been alive for the reason that 1700s…effectively, she has. And as we see within the teaser, she clearly has data of who Morpheus is. Within the comics, Hettie proved to have life that prolonged far past the core Sandman collection. She additionally appeared in spinoff titles like Demise: The Excessive Price of Residing, The Dreaming and The Sandman Universe: Books of Magic, in addition to the unique Hellblazer, which starred Johanna’s trench-wearing relation.
An Limitless Kingdom
The teaser provides us a glimpse of the Dreaming, Morpheus’s kingdom, and it’s breathtaking. Critically, I solely want my desires had been this vibrant. The Dreaming realm is colourful and filled with architectural wonders. We additionally see the realm after it has fallen, changing into a decayed kingdom that exudes moodiness. The set items on this collection are going to be spectacular, and I can’t wait to see extra of them.
Demise and Need
The teaser gave us a short have a look at Dream’s siblings, Demise and Need, and I already need extra of them! Kirby Howell-Bapiste seems as Demise, confidentially strutting throughout a discipline for a single second, however what a second it’s. Demise appears to embody energy, grace and compassion all of sudden. I can’t wait to see what she brings to the desk in a full-length episode—and together with her iconic story “The Sound of Her Wings” a memorable a part of The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes, there’s all probability that we’ll get one.
As well as, Mason Alexander’s Need is seen, and the look they provide to their mirror says all of it. Readers of the comedian know that Need likes to create bother for Dream, and now we’ll be seeing that rivalry play out onscreen.
Please Wait to be Seated
The teaser solely provides us one second of David Thewlis as John Dee, however that single second holds a lot promise. Dee clutches a ruby and appears to be standing subsequent to an indication that claims, “Welcome, please wait to be seated.”
Oh, my pals, for those who’ve learn The Sandman, then you recognize precisely what which means and the way terrifying it’s. “24 Hours” (printed in The Sandman #6) is likely one of the most annoying comics you’ll ever learn, and it appears like we’ll be seeing it in reside motion. Be sure to put the youngsters to mattress earlier than this one.
Nightmare Unleashed
The teaser closes with a short have a look at the Corinthian, as portrayed by Boyd Holbrook. You’ll discover that the poster above doesn’t present his eyes and that within the teaser, they appear to be…bleeding. There’s a motive for this, as Sandman followers know, and it’s a deeply disturbing one. The Corinthian is a nightmare created by Morpheus who got here to our realm to turn into a serial killer. The menace in Holbrook’s voice is breathtaking, and if the Corinthian’s comedian guide storyline is any indication, then it appears that is only a small style of the horrors that await us.
(By the way in which, I’d be lax if I didn’t point out that the Corinthian is at the moment starring in his personal collection, written by at least James Tynion IV. It’s known as The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Nation and it’s effectively value a glance for those who’re within the character. It’s additionally completely terrifying.)
Quoth the Raven
Let’s finish with one thing a bit lighter, we could? I by no means thought I might be so enthusiastic about seeing a chook, however Matthew the Raven is not any unusual avian, and he has fascinating ties to a different iconic DC collection.
Matthew Cable was a authorities agent who hunted Swamp Factor throughout his earliest appearances. Cable discovered himself caught within the crossfire of Anton Arcane’s struggle with Swampy, and finally misplaced his life. Nevertheless, he was given one other likelihood at life when he was reincarnated as a raven, who finally grew to become Morpheus’s companion in The Sandman. When you’ve seen the 2019 DCTV collection primarily based on Swamp Factor, you may do not forget that actor Henderson Wade performed Cable, and there have been followers who questioned if we’d finally be seeing him as a raven. Effectively, it’s not how they may have anticipated, however Matthew’s raven kind will quickly make its method to the display screen, solely this time, he’ll be embodied by comic and actor Patton Oswalt. Hopefully within the subsequent trailer, we would hear him converse.
This isn’t a dream, DC followers, The Sandman Netflix collection is actually taking place. If the teaser left you hungry for extra and also you’ve not but learn The Sandman, the primary eight problems with the collection can be found to learn on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE. There’s additionally a extremely acclaimed audio manufacturing that covers the primary 2/3rds of the collection (with the ultimate installment ending it out on its manner) that’s accessible via Audible. Within the meantime, we’ll be counting down the times till August 5th…
The Sandman, starring Tom Sturridge as Morpheus, the Grasp of Desires, debuts August 5, 2022 on Netflix.
Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, motion pictures and comics for DCComics.com and writes our month-to-month Batman column, “Gotham Gazette.” Observe him on Twitter at @TBUJosh.
