Sandman puts film version to sleep, off to TV instead? | Movie News
Back in 2008 while celebrating the 20th anniversary of the release of "The Sandman," artist Neil Gaiman said that "a Sandman movie is an inevitability." Just two years later it looks as if that inevitability was actually quite evitable. As it turns out, Warner Bros. has put the kibosh on a film version and instead passed the rights off to the property to Warner Bros. TV who are in the early stages of developing the comic as a TV series.
Gaiman was first approached by Warner Bros. (who own DC, who run Vertigo, the imprint that published "Sandman") back in the early 90s, before he had finished the comic's run. He then begged the studio not to develop the movie until after he was finished. The closest the film ever came was a draft Roger Avary had worked on in the late-90s with Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott (who would go on to write the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN films). While that iteration never got off the ground, Gaiman and Avary became friends and collaborated later on BEOWULF. A later script was widely panned with Gaiman saying it was one of the worst scripts he had ever read.
An HBO miniseries was in the works with James Mangold (KNIGHT & DAY) developing but now it looks as if Eric Kripke, creator of the popular CW series "Supernatural" is close to signing on to be the showrunner for the project. As of right now, Gaiman is not involved in any way with the project but WB hopes that will change once they move along with Kripke. (Kripke is said to be interested but hesitant because of the ardent devotion of the fans.)
Source: THR
Extra Tidbit: I read a lot of comics as a kid but never got into "Sandman" or "Death."
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Eric Kripke: "Wow, that's quite an honor. This is a very beloved and important work."
Warner Bros. TV Executive: "Is it? I was looking for something to snort coke with and found this old script on my desk, figured we could do something with it.”
...
Eric Kripke: "Wow, that's quite an honor. This is a very beloved and important work."
Warner Bros. TV Executive: "Is it? I was looking for something to snort coke with and found this old script on my desk, figured we could do something with it.”
Eric Kripke: "It's a very layered, deep and meaningful text, sir."
Warner Bros. TV Executive: "I'm not following."
Eric Kripke: "We need to be respectful to the source material."
Warner Bros. TV Executive: "That's the last thing we need to do. What can we change first?"
Eric Kripke: "Um..."
Warner Bros. TV Executive: "Oh, I've got it. I don't get why all these characters dress in black. Our audiences don't want to watch a bunch of mopey goths, let's give them new clothes – with DOUBLE RAINBOWS all over! Get it? Cause double rainbows are so in right now?"
Eric Kripke: "Er..."
Warner Bros. TV Executive: "And what's up with this crazy chick? I think they call her Delirium? We can't have crazy people on our show, it's way too offensive. I don't want letters from angry housewives. No, we'll have to get Amanda Bynes or Miley Cyrus to play a sassy yet calmer version of the character."
Eric Kripke: "I don't..."
Warner Bros. TV Executive: "As for this Death guy, I’ve got two words baby – Zac… Efron."
Eric Kripke: "I was thinking of going with an unknown..."
Warner Bros. TV Executive: "Maybe Ashton Kutcher..."
Eric Kripke: "..."
Warner Bros. TV Executive: "It's also way too dark. We need to punch up the comedy. Give the guy who made TWO AND A HALF MEN a call, he's hilarious."
Eric Kripke: "Sir, I..."
Warner Bros. TV Executive: "Oh, we're on a tight budget here, so you're gonna have to do all of this with nothing but elastic bands and a tub of peanut butter. Can you handle that?"
Eric Kripke: "I'm just going to go kill myself now."
Warner Bros. TV Executive: "You do that. BRENDA! Bring me that PREACHER script I saw floating around yesterday; I need something to wipe my ass with.”
11:49AM on 09/02/2010 Add as a friend | MFC profile
This isn't even a slightly good idea.
This isn't even a slightly good idea.
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