Netflix to end ‘The Sandman’ with Season 2 amid Gaiman allegations

Netflix has announced that The Sandman, based on Neil Gaiman's critically acclaimed comic book series, will conclude with its upcoming second season, set to premiere in 2025. The decision comes after the show had a successful first season, earning positive reviews and high viewership.

Showrunner Allan Heinberg shared that The Sandman was always intended to focus on the story of Dream, and after reviewing the remaining material from Gaiman's comics in 2022, the team determined they only had enough content for one more season. “We are extremely grateful to Netflix for bringing the team all back together and giving us the time and resources to make a faithful adaptation,” Heinberg said in a statement.

The show, which features Tom Sturridge as Lord Morpheus/Dream, Boyd Holbrook, Vivienne Acheampong, and Patton Oswalt among its cast, received a Certified Fresh rating of 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and was a hit for Netflix, topping the charts with over 127 million hours viewed following its debut.

However, the timing of the show’s cancellation is linked to the recent sexual assault allegations against Neil Gaiman. In response, Gaiman has publicly denied the claims, stating that he has never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity.

The cancellation follows a string of decisions impacting Gaiman’s other projects. Amazon halted production on Good Omens Season 3 and reworked it into a 90-minute finale, while Disney canceled the adaptation of The Graveyard Book, and Dark Horse Comics announced it would no longer move forward with the Anansi Boys series.

Despite the controversy surrounding Gaiman, The Sandman Season 2 will still be released, offering fans one final chapter to the journey of Dream. The production of the season began in June 2023 and wrapped in August 2024, though filming was delayed due to the dual strikes in the summer of 2023.