Neil Gaiman Affected To See Gordon-Levitt Leave The ‘Sandman’ Movie

A Sandman movie has been the talk of the Gaiman-loving community since the 1990s, since various television and film outfits have tried and failed to bring Sandman to the screens. Warner Bros. was originally going to create a Sandman movie back in 1996, with a script that merged the Preludes and Nocturnes storyline with The Doll’s House. The later draft by William Farmer has left Gaiman unsatisfied and reluctant about the Sandman movie, saying it was “not only the worst Sandman script I’ve ever seen, but quite easily the worst script I’ve ever read.”

Sandman‘s nature as a comic has been a very unique and life-changing experience for many and that made it very difficult and challenging to translate into the small and big screens. Neil Gaiman, the creator of Sandman comics himself, has been doubtful about a Sandman movie ever since Warner Bros’ and Farmer’s failure. In a Q&A panel at Comic-Con 2007, Gaiman talks about the possibility of a Sandman movie:

“I’d rather see no Sandman movie made than a bad Sandman movie. But I feel like the time for a Sandman movie is coming soon. We need someone who has the same obsession with the source material as Peter Jackson had with Lord of the Rings or Sam Raimi had with Spider-Man.”

His Stardust did not translate as well as we would have wanted it to in the big screen, so it’s only logical for Gaiman to be very skeptical about the success of a Sandman movie.

However, quite recently, it looks like the Sandman movie is going to be a reality. In fact, a lot of people are believing it to arrive as early as 2016 and as late as 2018. But just as the Sandman movie is getting good development, thanks to the devotion of Joseph Gordon-Levitt into the project, he leaves the production.

Earlier today, Joseph Gordon-Levitt announced via his Facebook page that he is dropping out of the Sandman movie. Creating a lengthy post, Joseph Gordon-Levitt tries to explain how excited he has been for the Sandman movie and how painful it is that he has to leave the production due to several “differences” with the new producer of Sandman, New Line Cinema.

“Recently, as you also might know if you like to follow these sorts of things, the sorta ‘ownership’ (for lack of a better term) of the Sandman material changed hands when Warner Brothers shifted the entire catalogue of Vertigo comics (an imprint of DC) to their subsidiary, New Line. And a few months ago, I came to realize that the folks at New Line and I just don’t see eye to eye on what makes Sandman special, and what a film adaptation could/should be. So unfortunately, I decided to remove myself from the project. I wish nothing but the best for the team moving forward.”

Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s announcement made quite a buzz amongst Sandman fans, making them skeptical, too, about the upcoming Sandman movie. A lot of the fans are furious at New Line, noting that whoever Gordon-Levitt got into disagreement with should be the one leaving the Sandman movie, and not him. One comment from Joseph Gordon Levitt’s post reads as follows.

“No, no, no, this is wrong. New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures should recognize, as most of us do, that Joseph isn’t just ‘attached’ to the project. He is the SOUL of the Sandman adaptation. He’s demonstrated he’s passionate about the story, he cares for doing it right, he brought Neil onboard, he has both the acting and directing experience to know what the project needs.

“Everyone who believes, as I do, that Joseph is the ONE that should helm the Sandman adaptation: let’s make ourselves heard. Movie executives should adapt to the creative minds that turn ideas into art, not the other way around.”

In fact, Joseph Gordon-Levitt might have been who Neil Gaiman was referring to back in 2007 when he said “We need someone who has the same obsession with the source material as Peter Jackson had with Lord of the Rings.” Now that he is gone, what is Neil Gaiman feeling about the upcoming Sandman movie?

And, for the record, my respect for @hitRECordJoe, is undiminished. Getting to know him was the best bit of the last round. He’s special.

— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) March 5, 2016

@hitRECordJoe me too.

— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) March 6, 2016

Is it so coincidental, too, that just as soon as the new writer comes aboard the Sandman movie team—horror scriptwriter Eric Heisserer, known for Final Destination—Joseph Gordon-Levitt drops out the Sandman project?

Nevertheless, Neil Gaiman is contented with what he has right now: his The Sandman: Overture Deluxe Edition already available on hardcover and via Kindle, his Likely Storiesalready filming for TV, and the legacy that Sandman has left on all of us from day one.

For me, what’s important is the 2,500 pages of SANDMAN, not a movie that may or may not ever happen. https://t.co/6NZe47nvJ4

— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) March 6, 2016

Stay tuned for more news about Neil Gaiman and the upcoming Sandman movie—if ever it does materialize.

[Photo by Darryl James/Getty Images]