Netflix's adaptation of Neil Gaiman's THE SANDMAN and everything you need to know

  

WHAT/WHO IS THE SANDMAN? 

 The Sandman is an upcoming American television Superhero/Dark Fantasy series based on the 80's comic book written by Neil Gaiman and published by DC Comics. The series was developed by Allan Heinberg Netflix with Heinberg, Gaiman, and David S. Goyer serving as executive producers and is being produced by DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. The Sandman tells the story of Dream, the titular Sandman. Filming began in October 2020. The synopsis reads, "In 1916, Dream, the king of stories and one of the seven Endless, is captured in an occult ritual. After being held captive for 105 years, in 2021 he escapes and sets out to restore order to his kingdom of the Dreaming".

CHARACTERS IN THE SANDMAN

DREAM
The Sandman's main character is Dream played by Tom Sturridge, the titular Sandman, also known to various characters throughout the series as Morpheus, Oneiros, the Shaper, the Shaper of Form, Lord of the Dreaming, the Dream King, Dream-Sneak, the Cat of Dreams, Murphy, Kai'ckul and Lord L'Zoril, who is the personification of dreams. At the start of the series, Morpheus is captured by an occult ritual and held prisoner for 70 years (105 years in the series). Morpheus escapes in the modern day and, after avenging himself upon his captors, sets about rebuilding his kingdom, which has fallen into disrepair in his absence. The character's initial haughty and often cruel manner begins to soften after his years of imprisonment at the start of the series, but the challenge of undoing past sins and changing old ways is an enormous one for a being who has been set in his ways for billions of years. In its beginnings, the series is a very dark horror comic. Later, the series evolves into an elaborate fantasy series, incorporating elements of classical  and contemporary mythology, ultimately placing its protagonist in the role of a tragic hero.

THE MAGICIAN
The Lord Magus of The Order of the Ancient Mysteries. Born Morris Burgess Brocklesby and known also as The Demon King, his magical fraternity was initially funded by his inherited industrial wealth. Burgess is a magician within the DC world and he is Crowley's rival.
The series begins with Burgess' attempt to capture and bind Death, which fails, capturing Dream instead. He will be played by veteran actor, Charles Dance (Tywin Lannister from Game of Thrones).

THE CORINTHIAN
The Corinthian (Boyd Holbrook) is generally an impeccable dresser and will often wear only white clothing. The Corinthian's most notable physical feature is his lack of eyes: in their place, two rows oft small, jagged teeth line each eye socket, which he often covers with sunglasses. He can speak, eat, and even respire through these mouths. He does not seem to suffer in any way from his lack of eyes, and indeed claims to be able to see very well; he is shown driving adequately, even while wearing sunglasses at night. He is, however, fond of taking the eyeballs of his victims and "eating" them by placing them in his eye sockets. Chris Hemsworth was also considered for the role.

LUCIFER
Lucifer is the sometime ruler of Hell, and a fallen angel. He is based on the fallen angel Lucifer, whose story was created by John Milton in his epic poem Paradise Lost. Neil Gaiman also used the character Lucifer in his short story 'Murder Mysteries', wherein he was a captain in the Silver City, with Azazel as his protégé. He will be played by Game of Thrones alumi, Gwendoline Christie. What changed? Tom Ellis was rumored to be playing Lucifer in this particular series and as he currently stars as Lucifer in a Netflix series of the same name which exists in the Vertigo Universe. A female Lucifer would be fun to watch all the same.

DESTINY
The oldest of the Endless, Destiny appears as a blind man dressed in grey or brown robes (purple in earlier comics), carrying a large book, the Cosmic Log. The book is chained to him, or he is chained to the book, and within the book is written the entire sum of existence, past, present and future. Destiny seems the most possessed by his function and responsibilities of any of the Endless. He rarely demonstrates much personality. His sigil is his book. His speech appears as a regular word balloon with letters in italics. In his garden are paths souls walk along as they fulfill their lives.

DEATH
Death is the second eldest of the Endless, a family of anthropomorphic (look it up) beings. Death is possibly the most powerful of the Endless (and one of the most powerful beings in the universe, followed closely by beings like Lucifer Morningstar, however is slightly less powerful than The Presence) having been shown to be virtually omniscient and being able to intimidate the Furies, who show no fear of the other Endless. It's character hasn't been casted yet for the Netflix' adaptation.

CAIN and ABEL
Cain (Sanjeev Bhaskar) and Abel (Asim Chadhry) are dreams that embody the characters in the Biblical story of the same name: the first murderer and the first victim – and so Cain is constantly killing his brother Abel, who never stays dead.
Cain frequently kills Abel in a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder; whereupon Abel revives, with the frequent hope for a more harmonious relationship based upon the brotherly love he craves.
Though the pair often function as comic relief in a dark way, it is they who shelter Dream upon his return to the Dreaming until his strength is restored, following his imprisonment in the waking world.

DESTRUCTION
A very large, robust man with red hair, who sometimes appears bearded and sometimes shaven. Destruction abandoned his responsibilities as one of the Endless three hundred years ago, causing much conflict between him and his siblings. Since abandoning his realm, the other Endless usually refer to him as "the Prodigal" or "Brother" rather than "Destruction". He has a passion for creative and constructive endeavors, but little talent. His sigil is a sword. He could be introduced in the second season.

LUCIEN
Lucien is the head librarian in the Dreaming, and resides within Dream's Castle where his vast library is. He was originally the first Raven companion to Dream of the Endless.
Lucien was altered or evolved into a humanoid form, taller even than Dream, and with pointed ears. It is entirely possible he might have been a mortal once, just as his successor as Dream's Raven, Matthew, once was. The TV adaptation reads 'Lucienne' and as your guess is, he is a 'she'. The character will be female in the TV adaptation played by Vivienne Acheampong.

In 2019, Netflix signed a deal with Warner Bros. after rejection by HBO due to the series big budget. What a commendable ambition shown by Netflix!
The Sandman is scheduled to premiere late this year or early next year. Can't wait!