Exclu: “The Sandman,” the Neil Gaiman-penned comic book series considered a seminal work in the medium, is in the early stages of being developed into a TV series.
Warner Bros. TV is in the midst of acquiring television rights from sister company DC Entertainment and is in talks with several writer-producers about adapting the 1990s series. At the top of the list is Eric Kripke, creator of the CW’s horror-tinged “Supernatural.”
“Sandman” told the tale of Morpheus, the Lord of the Dreaming, a deity who personifies dreams. The book began in the horror realm but quickly made its mark in fantasy and mythology as Gaiman introduced the Endless, a group of powerful brothers and sisters that includes Destiny, Death, Destruction, Despair, Desire and Delirium (as well as Dream).
The book helped establish DC’s Vertigo imprint and won several awards. It also was one of the few comics that segued from the comics crowd, entering the intellectual and art worlds and winning over a large non-comics-reading audience, particularly via a devoted female following.
A movie version of “Sandman” had been in development since the mid-’90s, with an early version involving Roger Avary. That cooled earlier in the decade, with the thinking that to the best way to tackle an adaptation is the TV route. At one point DC was in talks with HBO and James Mangold to develop a show without WBTV’s involvement, but that never coalesced.
Gaiman was not officially involved with the HBO attempt, though he and Mangold held several rounds of talks surrounding characters and story. The author is not involved in the latest development, though because it is early in the process, that could change.
Kripke has been described as interested in tackling an adaptation but cautious because the comic book has such a passionate following and is held in such high regard. It’s the kind of series where each production decision, from casting to script to design, would be scrutinized by devotees.
Still, Kripke managed to create and sustain “Supernatural,” which week in and week out deals with fantasy, mythological and horror elements. He also displayed a certain amount of creative integrity when he stuck to his guns by not returning as showrunner when the network renewed the series for a sixth season after he completed a planned five-season story line.
WBTV and WME, which reps Kripke, declined to comment.
Despite most fans hating last seasons finale Kripke made a great show in Supernatural, and some of the writers could do wonders with Sandman BUT one of the big problems Sandman would have is dealing with a budget, SPN is woefully lacking in one half the time as last seasons finale proved it since there was hardly any "bang" to speak of, Sandman could find that fate as well.
Cade on
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Garlic Breadi'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm aRegistered User, Disagreeableregular
I can really see Sandman getting adapted into an absolutely shit show. I feel like it'd wind up as the generic story of a twenty-something with mystic powers, coping with life in the city while juggling familial drama.
For some reason, I can really picture it as having the same structure as the old Highlander TV show, where the hero has a problem-of-the-week, which always dovetails nicely with some thing from his past.
HBO would have been great...CW, I don't have a lot of confidence in. I like Supernatural, but I'd be banking on Dream visiting a lot of fog filled dreamscapes (red lit fog = hell).
Which networks doing the Walking Dead?
I can really see Sandman getting adapted into an absolutely shit show. I feel like it'd wind up as the generic story of a twenty-something with mystic powers, coping with life in the city while juggling familial drama.
For some reason, I can really picture it as having the same structure as the old Highlander TV show, where the hero has a problem-of-the-week, which always dovetails nicely with some thing from his past.
I picture it being like a TV version of MirrorMask. Very stylistic and with a lot of atmosphere so as to express the underlying theme of the arc/comic/show. That's how I would do a Sandman show, though it would require a big budget.
Gaiman work has been translated to television and film without selling out. I don't think Gaiman would allow one of his major works to be wasted by halfhearted effort. Then again, the article stated that Gaiman wasn't involved this time around.
My choice for Morpheus?
I mean, look at him!
Compared to,
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AntimatterDevo Was RightGates of SteelRegistered Userregular
edited September 2010
Sorry, he's playing Lucifer
"...Neil was adamant that the Devil was David Bowie. He just said, 'He is. You must draw David Bowie. Find David Bowie, or I'll send you David Bowie. Because if it isn't David Bowie, you're going to have to redo it until it is David Bowie.' So I said, 'Okay, it's David Bowie.'..."
"...Neil was adamant that the Devil was David Bowie. He just said, 'He is. You must draw David Bowie. Find David Bowie, or I'll send you David Bowie. Because if it isn't David Bowie, you're going to have to redo it until it is David Bowie.' So I said, 'Okay, it's David Bowie.'..."
The next day, David Bowie showed up to model with a tag that said "From Neil."
Also no one was saying it will be on the CW, just the producer's last show was on it.
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RingoHe/Hima distinct lack of substanceRegistered Userregular
edited September 2010
Finally saw The Losers. Enjoyed it quite a bit right up until they got to the docks where the whole thing just got disjointed and kind of boring. Simply cutting and pasting together two different action scenes from the comic doesn't make for a decent climax to your movie. This is the one place where some actual creative direction could've really helped. Instead they just threw in two scenes verbatim and papered over the cracks with cliches and it sucked.
Credits scenes were gold however. As was Chris Evans as Jensen.
Here's a listing of "creative licensing" taken with comic book movie/tv properties.
Spider-man piloting a giant robot.
Wonder Woman does sexy dancing.
Swamp Thing the cartoon
And best of all, the Thing cartoon with his memorable catchphrase "Thing ring do your thing!"
In other words, this is a trip down TLB's cherished childhood.
Scott Pilgrim didn't make it's budget back? But that film was awesome! This is why we can't have nice things...
No, THIS is why we can't have nice things:
To be fair, Kick-Ass only cost around 30 million to make so even if the ad budget was large it still made a profit from the US and international box office. Plus I've heard the home video sales are great for it.
Also geeks do go out and watch these films but what people have to remember is that geeks are a fickle minority. Market your film towards them and you may find that ony half will deign to go and see your superhero film, while the other half will mock it derisively and then download it illegally. Even if all geeks do go and see it that's still not a huge amount of people so you need to pull in the punters in some other way.
It's not exactly fair to judge films based on obscure properties against Indiana Jones, one of the most recognizable and lucrative franchises in movie history.
"Wanted" or "RED" would be a better example of what happens when you decide to ignore the fans and shoot for mainstream appeal.
Yeah. Plus, look at Snakes on a Plane. Was that ever going to be a hit? Of course not. It was basically a direct-to-DVD movie that somehow got theater distribution. But it made its budget back and then some.
Serenity was a sci-fi film with a virtually unrecognizable cast.
Sometimes good movies that everyone likes just don't make money, and shitty movies that are critically decried do gangbusters. It's just how it goes.
Posts
Probably nothing. They just want to do their own thing and I think this one is pretty cool
Despite most fans hating last seasons finale Kripke made a great show in Supernatural, and some of the writers could do wonders with Sandman BUT one of the big problems Sandman would have is dealing with a budget, SPN is woefully lacking in one half the time as last seasons finale proved it since there was hardly any "bang" to speak of, Sandman could find that fate as well.
For some reason, I can really picture it as having the same structure as the old Highlander TV show, where the hero has a problem-of-the-week, which always dovetails nicely with some thing from his past.
Tumblr Twitter
Which networks doing the Walking Dead?
I picture it being like a TV version of MirrorMask. Very stylistic and with a lot of atmosphere so as to express the underlying theme of the arc/comic/show. That's how I would do a Sandman show, though it would require a big budget.
Gaiman work has been translated to television and film without selling out. I don't think Gaiman would allow one of his major works to be wasted by halfhearted effort. Then again, the article stated that Gaiman wasn't involved this time around.
My choice for Morpheus?
I mean, look at him!
Compared to,
The next day, David Bowie showed up to model with a tag that said "From Neil."
I really liked Supernatural but this could turn out to be such shit.
And yes Bowie must be Lucifer.
Tumblr Twitter
It should really be a HBO/Showtime mini-series.
But yeah, if you could grab David Bowie from his prime for the role of Morpheus...
Ooo...or Johnny Depp. I could totally go for Depp as Morpheus.
Diablo 3 - ArtfulDodger#1572
Minecraft - ArtfulDodger42
Credits scenes were gold however. As was Chris Evans as Jensen.
except the box office returns
Tumblr Twitter
but it came a lot closer than scott pilgrim
TLB: Action Movie Apologist
It's okay to expect quality from an action movie, TLB! The genre can evolve!
maybe you forgot that the whole movie was building to it?
No, THIS is why we can't have nice things:
EDIT: Darn, forgot I couldn't post images due to my 'jailing'. Anyone, trust me that the link goes to something humorous and topical.
Diablo 3 - ArtfulDodger#1572
Minecraft - ArtfulDodger42
Spider-man piloting a giant robot.
Wonder Woman does sexy dancing.
Swamp Thing the cartoon
And best of all, the Thing cartoon with his memorable catchphrase "Thing ring do your thing!"
In other words, this is a trip down TLB's cherished childhood.
Diablo 3 - ArtfulDodger#1572
Minecraft - ArtfulDodger42
Tumblr Twitter
https://twitter.com/Hooraydiation
Except for Hulk dying
"Wanted" or "RED" would be a better example of what happens when you decide to ignore the fans and shoot for mainstream appeal.
https://twitter.com/Hooraydiation
Serenity was a sci-fi film with a virtually unrecognizable cast.
Sometimes good movies that everyone likes just don't make money, and shitty movies that are critically decried do gangbusters. It's just how it goes.
Tumblr Twitter
Vampires Suck is over 32 million and was still playing in 2, 434 theaters.