Netflix’s In Your Dreams: Alex Woo Explains The Sandman’s Complex Villainy

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Okay, so Netflix is at it again with another take on The Sandman, this time with the animated film In Your Dreams. And let me tell you, director Alex Woo isn’t painting the Sandman as just a bad guy. The story centers around Stevie and Elliot, two siblings facing a tough situation – their parents are splitting up. Desperate to save their family, they embark on a journey into the dream world to find The Sandman himself and make a wish: for their parents to fall back in love. It’s a surprisingly heartfelt premise, and I’m curious to see how they handle the mythology.

Featuring Craig Robinson, Simu Liu, and Cristin Milioti, the movie In Your Dreams takes a surprising turn halfway through when it’s revealed that The Sandman isn’t a hero, but the villain. He’s been giving people dreams that come true, but at a dangerous cost – they fall into comas. Stevie experiences this firsthand, entering a coma to live out a perfect fantasy. Luckily, with help from Elliot and their parents, Stevie manages to escape The Sandman’s dream, and they discover the magical book responsible for everything.

Before the release of the film, Ash Crossan and Liam Crowley from ScreenRant spoke with co-writer and director Alex Woo, as well as stars Simu Liu, Craig Robinson, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, and Elias Janssen about In Your Dreams. Woo explained that the movie portrays The Sandman in a way similar to The Wizard of Oz, and drew inspiration from both L. Frank Baum’s book and the Wicked musical. He specifically aimed to balance the character’s capacity for darkness with a more positive, good-hearted side.

I saw the original Broadway production of Wicked and absolutely loved it! I’m a huge fan, and you’re right to point out that the characters aren’t simply evil. I think the most compelling villains always believe they’re doing the right thing. It’s rare to find truly malicious people; most ‘evil’ stems from good intentions gone wrong – people trying to help others or society, but ultimately causing harm because their approach is misguided. That’s how I interpreted The Sandman as well.

Woo’s main aim with the film—which has been well-received by critics, earning an 86% “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes—was to shift how we think about dreams and nightmares. He believes dreams can help us find purpose and inspire creativity, but focusing on them too much can actually be harmful.

He wanted to soften the character a bit for younger viewers, so he made The Sandman the villain in In Your Dreams. The idea was to portray him as a misguided character. This also allowed Woo to challenge the idea that nightmares are always bad, since facing his own nightmares in the past had actually led to positive experiences in his life.

I’ve realized that the hardest experiences in my life, the ones that felt like nightmares, were actually the most important for my growth. I learned and developed the most through those challenges, so maybe we should rethink how we view difficult times.

Woo explained that establishing this story groundwork made the ending of In Your Dreams difficult to finalize during development. Knowing Stevie couldn’t achieve all her desires would have felt unrealistic. He described such an ending as overly sweet and inauthentic, and he was determined to avoid a purely tragic conclusion. Finding the right balance proved extremely challenging, but he aimed for an ending that felt honest without being completely devastating.

I aimed to create a feeling of hopeful sadness with the film. While it’s optimistic, it acknowledges that things don’t always work out exactly as planned. That’s really the core message: life’s imperfections often lead to something even better than we imagined. I’ve experienced this personally, and I think many people can relate. My hope is that the film will resonate with audiences and offer comfort as they navigate their own challenges.

In Your Dreams Is One Of A Few Projects Woo Wanted To Leave Pixar To Make

ScreenRant asked the creator about the long development process of the project, noting it had been in development for nearly ten years. They wanted to know about the journey from initial ideas—even those scribbled on a pizza box—to pitching the project to Netflix, and how everything finally came together despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I used to work at Pixar for about ten years, from 2005 to 2015. After that, I wanted to start my own company, so in 2016, I left Pixar and co-founded Kuku Studios with two friends I’d met there. For the first year, we focused on developing TV shows and movies we were passionate about – things we didn’t see being made elsewhere. One of those ideas became ‘In Your Dreams.’ We were really excited about creating an animated movie set in the dream world, as we felt that setting hadn’t been fully explored, particularly in Western animation.

Films like ‘Inception’ and Japanese anime like ‘Paprika’ had already explored the world of dreams, but American animation hadn’t really tackled the subject yet. We saw a real opportunity because dreams are a universal and magical experience – we still don’t fully understand why we have them, and they transport us to another world. It felt like a perfect fit for an animated movie. However, the biggest challenge with dream stories is that, because anything can happen, it can be hard to create meaningful stakes. Without stakes, the story doesn’t really matter.

As we were developing the story, which was pretty out-there, we really needed to find a way to make it feel real and connect with audiences on a personal level. That’s when I thought back to something that happened to me as a kid. I was probably six or seven, and one cold morning in Minnesota, I woke up to find my mom with her suitcases by the front door. My brother and I were totally confused! She had to explain, as gently as she could, that she needed some time away to figure things out, both for herself and for our family.

I vividly remember watching her drive away and feeling desperately like I needed to hold my family together. When I shared this personal story with my colleagues, they immediately connected with it – they said it was relatable, honest, and something people could really get behind. The simple desire to protect your family, seen through a child’s eyes, resonated with them. That’s what sparked the idea for ‘In Your Dreams’ – we wanted to combine that intimate, emotional core with a grand, imaginative world of dreams and adventure.

ScreenRant asked about the meaning behind the name of the filmmaker’s production studio, Kuku Studios. The filmmaker explained that the name has a double meaning and shared what it is.

So, starting our own animation studio after leaving Pixar was a bit of a risk! We initially considered the name ‘Crazy Studios,’ but it didn’t quite feel right. We liked ‘Kuku’ but discovered ‘ku’ actually means ‘cry’ in Chinese. The name ‘Kuku’ felt fitting because we were really inspired by the traditional Greek theater masks – the ones for tragedy and comedy. We want to create stories that evoke a full range of emotions, making you laugh until you cry and also deeply connecting with you on an emotional level. That’s where the name ‘Kuku’ came from – representing both joyful and heartfelt stories.

ScreenRant asked about how the show links the dream world to reality, and specifically, how elements within the dreams are always connected to the characters’ real-life experiences.

We really wanted the film to feel genuine, so we started by having everyone keep dream journals. The idea was for the cast and crew to write down their dreams – or at least, the ones they could recall – to help create a more authentic feel throughout the movie.

ScreenRant: Your cast members?

The dreams you see in the film come directly from dream journals kept by our team – many were my own, and others from Eric. We really wanted to capture the true feeling of dreams and how they connect to our waking lives. That connection was actually the key to unlocking the whole story. I had a personal experience that sparked the idea, but we were stuck on how to link that to the dream world. Then I realized that if there was a character, the Sandman, who could make dreams reality, it would create that vital connection – meaning actions in the dream world could have real consequences in the waking world. That breakthrough really allowed us to finish the movie.

ScreenRant asked how it felt to release the film at this moment, noting Cristin Milioti is currently winning Emmys and Simu Liu just finished filming “Avengers: Doomsday.” This timing adds a certain level of excitement and recognition to “In Your Dreams” that wasn’t necessarily anticipated.

We feel incredibly fortunate and I’m so happy and proud of Simu and the cast, even though I didn’t directly contribute to their success – I’m just a big fan! When we cast Simu, he had just finished filming Shang-Chi, but the release was delayed due to COVID. I hadn’t really heard of him before. A mutual friend knew I was looking for an actor of Chinese descent, as there weren’t many well-known Chinese-American actors at the time. He suggested Simu, and after watching Kim’s Convenience, I was immediately impressed by his charm and comedic talent. I then learned he was cast as Shang-Chi, and I knew he was going to be a star. We met over Zoom, and I found him incredibly charismatic, which was perfect for the role of the Dad character. The Dad is a musician who hasn’t quite achieved his dreams, and could easily be seen as unreliable, but Simu’s charisma makes you root for him and want him to succeed, setting a good example for his children. That was really important. Also, something people may not know is that Simu actually sang in the movie!

ScreenRant mentioned that, if their information is right, the person got him to sing before he appeared in the movie Barbie.

I remember during the audition process with this actor, I had a hunch. His character was a musician, and we had a song planned for the film, so on a whim, I asked if he could sing. He confessed he loved to sing, but nobody really knew that about him! He sent over a recording, and honestly, I was blown away. He was genuinely good! I was so thrilled we could actually highlight that hidden talent in the movie – it was a fantastic discovery.

I’ve been a fan of Cristin Milioti ever since I first worked on the animated show The Venture Brothers in college. She voiced a couple of characters, and I was immediately struck by her incredible range and talent. Since then, she’s had roles in shows like Once Upon a Time and How I Met Your Mother, and films like Palm Springs and Black Mirror. Plus, she’s a phenomenal singer!

She released a cover album and actually won a Grammy for one of the performances on it. I believe she did a full cover of a Bon Iver album too. She’s incredibly talented, both as an actress and a performer – I really think she has the potential to win an EGOT. She already has two awards towards that, and just needs two more. We were very fortunate she agreed to be in our film, as she’s very selective about her roles, which shows how much she values her artistic vision. Her participation meant a lot to me and was a real boost of confidence in my work as a director.

ScreenRant asked Craig Robinson about his character, Baloney Tony, and the interesting visual choice to design him as two different halves. They were curious about the story behind the contrasting sides of his appearance.

Alex Woo explained they didn’t intentionally set out to create a ‘half-and-half’ design. Instead, they aimed for Baloney Tony to appear like a cherished, well-loved stuffed animal that —

ScreenRant: Do you have one from your childhood?

Alex Woo: Not anymore. I’ve had to throw it out.

ScreenRant: What’s the stuffed animal, and what’s the name? I always love to know these things.

Baloney Tony started as a memory from my childhood. My brother and I both received identical teddy bears – we called them Santa Bears – as a Christmas gift from our aunt. They were white, like polar bears, and wore little red and green knitted hats. When my brother was little, he used to get nosebleeds, and one of them stained one of the bears near the tail. It ended up looking a bit like a… well, a rear end! So, he jokingly named it ‘Butthole Bear,’ but he loved it anyway, even though it was messy and stained. I think everyone has a well-loved toy that’s seen better days, but still feels special and comforting – it brings a sense of nostalgia and feels like home. That feeling is what inspired Baloney Tony.

ScreenRant asked if the post-credits scene ruled out the possibility of continuing the story with the same family, perhaps in a series of standalone stories. They wanted to know if a sequel to In Your Dreams would revisit this family or explore a new one with a different story.

We included the post-credit button as a playful way to subvert expectations. Many Marvel movies end with a teaser for the next installment, and we wanted to poke fun at that trope by leading the audience to believe we were setting up a sequel, then pulling the rug out from under them. It consistently gets a laugh. While it doesn’t rule out future movies – I adore this film, the characters, and the potential of the dream world – whether we get a sequel is ultimately up to Netflix.

Simu Liu Has Some Surprising Sympathy For A Classic Disney Villain

I absolutely adored this movie! It was just so sweet and charming, and honestly, I wasn’t prepared for how hilarious it was. There’s one scene that really stuck with me – when they’re at Polly’s Pizzeria, and the animatronics break out into “Don’t Cha” by the Pussycat Dolls! It was brilliant. It got me thinking… what’s your go-to karaoke song?

It’s definitely nerve-wracking! When it comes to karaoke, I’m a big fan of R&B ballads – John Legend’s “All of Me” is a favorite. If I’m with someone, we might do “Shallow,” but I can only sing one of the parts. I think I can actually hold a tune! The best part about karaoke is that everyone’s forced to listen to you, which is great.

ScreenRant: What is the number one recurring dream that you have had?

I often have this recurring dream where I suddenly realize I have a test or exam I completely forgot about – and it’s happening really soon! It’s strange because I feel like an adult, but I’m somehow back in high school, facing this impossible test I haven’t prepared for. It’s always a high school exam, never college, and the stakes are always really high – like I won’t graduate if I fail.

I’m a big fan of Baloney Tony – I actually have one and even let it sleep in my bed! It reminded me of my childhood toys, which always had strange names. Mine was called Pink Flamingo. Did you have a favorite toy you couldn’t bear to part with? Maybe you had to give it away, and you still miss it?

Growing up, my toys were whatever my family could find at yard sales. I’d often have incomplete sets – bits and pieces of Power Rangers, or a He-Man figure without a head. It was a bit like the character Sid from Toy Story – I had to cobble things together and use my imagination. That’s why I actually feel bad for Sid! It’s clear he was just making the most of what he had and trying to be creative. Looking back, he might have been a little rougher with his toys than I was, but he was definitely trying to make them work. Honestly, my favorite toy was probably that headless He-Man figure.

Craig Robinson Has A “Rollercoaster”-Like Recurring Dream

Okay, I absolutely loved the scene at Polly’s Pizzeria – seeing those animatronics belting out “Don’t Cha” by The Pussycat Dolls was hilarious! It totally got me thinking… what would my karaoke song be? If I was setting the scene, I’d be grabbing the mic and launching into “Bohemian Rhapsody” – complete with all the dramatic pauses and high notes, of course!

Yeah, I’m thinking of playing Muse’s “Time is Running Out” on Saturday night – the crowd’s gonna be great!

I actually get nervous performing, but when I was a child, I used to love singing “Titanium.”

ScreenRant: Oh, that’s a good one.

It was a really intense experience. I’m not sure why I decided to do it, but I did. [Laughs]

Elias Janssen says his family has had a few karaoke nights, and for some reason, “Careless Whisper” is always a hit. He even knows most of the lyrics by heart.

Someone mentioned their beloved childhood toy, ‘Baloney Tony,’ which they still have and even share their bed with. This made them wonder if others had similar attachments to unique, perhaps oddly named, toys that were lost or given away, leaving them with lasting sadness.

Craig Robinson: I had this gray teddy bear, Dontavius.

ScreenRant: What happened to Dontavius?

Craig Robinson: He’s in storage.

ScreenRant: He’s in storage, okay, so he is still okay.

Craig Robinson: Yeah, he’s still around.

When I was little, my parents tell me I had a stuffed frog. They asked me what its name was, and I hadn’t thought of one yet, so I just made one up – I said his name was Hachor! [laughs]

Elias Janssen explained that he used to give his stuffed animals very simple names – just the animal’s name with a ‘y’ added to the end, like Froggy or Beary. He chuckled as he remembered.

ScreenRant asked about my most frequent dream, and it’s usually one of two things: my teeth falling out, or the feeling of having missed a major exam.

I don’t really have repeating dreams, but I often find myself thinking about stressful situations – like feeling anxious in social settings or having an upcoming deadline. I’ll mentally rehearse conversations or work on writing tasks in my head, and then wake up realizing I haven’t actually finished them. It makes me think, ‘I need to get this done, but maybe I should also relax a little.’

I don’t really have recurring dreams, or at least I can’t recall any. I don’t usually remember my dreams well, but when I do, they often make me wish I could experience something similar while I’m awake.

I have this recurring dream where I’m driving a car that suddenly turns into a rollercoaster. It goes up and loops around, which is really scary because you’re upside down in the car, but somehow I never fall out. That’s pretty much the whole dream, just that looping car ride. [laughs]

ScreenRant: What is a dream role that you have that you have not tackled yet that you’d love to do?

Elias Janssen says his dream role would be to appear in a superhero film, maybe something like Spider-Man. He’s always been drawn to the idea of being a superhero – he just thinks it would be awesome.

I’ve been considering doing a dub for a Studio Ghibli film. Hayao Miyazaki often says his movies will be his last, but he’s said that before, so who knows? I’m also really excited about the next animated project I’m working on – it’s been a long-time dream of mine, and I think people will be hearing about it soon.

Look, I’ve been thinking, and I really want to play a character who’s just… a force of nature. Someone who isn’t afraid to throw down, you know? I’m talking full-on action hero – kicking bad guys, sending them flying through windows, the whole nine yards. It’s a side of me audiences haven’t seen yet, and honestly, it sounds like a blast!

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2025-11-19 02:11