Netflix’s ‘The Sandman’ Series Eyeing Tom Sturridge For Morpheus
Netflix has found its Dream choice for the lead of its highly anticipated adaptation of Neil Gaiman’sThe Sandman.Velvet BuzzsawandFar From the Madding CrowdactorTom Sturridgeis reportedly in talks to star as Morpheus, the title character and the anthropomorphic personification of Dream in Netflix’sThe Sandmanseries, based on Gaiman’s groundbreaking graphic novel series.
Colliderbroke the news thatTom Sturridgeis in talks to star inThe Sandman, Netflix’s adaptation of Gaiman’s beloved comic series which followed the dark and fantastical adventures of Morpheus, the anthropomorphic personification of Dream, AKA Sandman. Sturridge reportedly tested for the title role earlier this year alongside Tom York (Poldark) and Colin Morgan (Merlin) before coming out on top.
Sturridge is best known for starring opposite Carey Mulligan inFar From the Madding Crowdand has made recent appearances in Dan Gilroy’sVelvet Buzzsaw, Terrence Malick’sSong to Song, and as Lord Byron in the Elle Fanning-ledMary Shelley. Although I have seen the latter, I can’t say he made a big impression on me, but he must have impressed theSandmancasting directors to win out for such a difficult, coveted role.
Morpheus is a challenging role to nail, as he’s the farthest thing from human as a character can be — the personification of Dream is an ageless immortal being who hails from a group called The Endless, who personify concepts like Death, Desire, Destiny, Delirium, Despair, and Destruction. Even skilled actors like James McAvoy strugglewith the rolein the audio drama adaptation ofThe Sandman(mostly due to what I believe is a miscasting, as the actor isn’t the right fit for the inhuman stoic that is Morpheus). It’s smart on Netflix’s part to cast a relative unknown, but my hope is that Sturridge at least has a deep, gravelly voice that can lend the kind of gravitas that Morpheus needs.
Gaimanrecently revealedon Twitter thatThe Sandmanwill begin shooting in three weeks, after production was delayed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Netflix has already given an 11-episode order to the fantasy drama, which comes from Warner Bros. TV. Gaiman is executive producing withDavid S. Goyer(Batman Begins) and writer/showrunnerAllan Heinberg(Wonder Woman).
It’s been a long road toThe Sandman, which has seen many failed attempts to adapt the property to the big screen, including one New Line feature film that would have starred Joseph Gordon-Levitt (nowthatwould have been a miscasting). The original 75-issue run ofTheSandmanwas published by DC Comics' Vertigo label and ran from January 1989 to March 1996, during which it was hailed as one of the greatest comic books of all time.
