Sandman Showrunner Reveals Truth Behind Netflix Cancellation and Gaiman’s Controversy!

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Allan Heinberg, the showrunner of “The Sandman”, clarified on Wednesday that the series was not canceled due to the sexual misconduct allegations against Neil Gaiman. Netflix had announced in January that the show would conclude with Season 2, a decision made before the premier of Season 1. The allegations against Gaiman were just surfacing at that time, and Heinberg explained that the decision to end the show was made prior. By the time reports about Gaiman emerged, Season 2 was already in post-production, leading Heinberg to believe it had no influence on the new episodes’ story or content. However, he acknowledged that the timing of the announcement regarding the series’ ending was indeed unfortunate.

Three years ago, we chose to end the show,” Heinberg stated regarding its cancellation. The underlying cause, as he elaborated, was primarily due to the original comic book’s structure by Gaiman, Sam Kieth, and Mike Dringenberg. This work frequently delves into the lives of other characters, leaving Dream (Tom Sturridge) somewhat detached. “There are certain volumes where he appears in only two scenes,” Heinberg noted as an example.

He aimed to center the narrative solely around Dream, as some stories may be cherished, while keeping in mind his initial proposal to Netflix, where he described this adaptation as primarily a family drama. It portrays the conflicts between Dream and his fellow Endless siblings, with the rest of them set to appear in Season 2. In essence, he believed there was only enough “heavy storyline” left for one season without compromising its integrity.

Regarding the surprising claims against Gaiman, Heinberg explained that they emerged following the completion of Season 2. “To be clear, these didn’t influence our ongoing work, as it is planned far ahead,” he stated. “We stick to our deadlines and keep moving forward. So, while I’ve been aware of them on the fringes, they haven’t played a role in the creation of the show – if you catch my drift. Each production is like its own separate entity, even though we were based in London. My involvement was primarily focused on the show’s production, and even outside the set, I’ve been largely detached from it for the past six years.”

For years, Neil Gaiman has been open and engaging with fans via social media platforms, which made the emotional response from readers even more profound when he was publicly accused of sexual assault by five women in July 2024. Consequently, Disney temporarily halted production on an adaptation of Gaiman’s novel “The Graveyard Book,” while Amazon Studios paused work on “Good Omens” Season 3. In January this year, another report regarding the allegations surfaced, preceding the cancellation of “The Sandman” and all collaborative projects between Gaiman and Dark Horse Comics.

Neil Gaiman himself has stated that he has never been involved in any non-consensual sexual encounters throughout his life. However, on his blog, he mentioned there are instances he partly recognizes and instances he doesn’t, which leaves room for ambiguity regarding the allegations against him. As of now, it remains uncertain if any legal proceedings related to the author will be initiated.

In two stages, the second season of “The Sandman” will debut on Netflix, beginning on July 3rd, followed by the finale on July 24th. Meanwhile, you can stream the first season on Netflix right now.

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2025-05-28 20:09