Sandman season 2 news has been coming in steadily since the show’s explosive debut on Netflix, and already the surreal fantasy drama looks set to be just as mindbending. Executive produced and created by Neil Gaiman, The Sandman is the long-anticipated adaptation of his beloved DC Comics dark fantasy graphic novel series. The Sandman stars Tom Sturridge as Dream of the Endless AKA Morpheus, Jenna Coleman as Johanna Constantine, Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death, Boyd Holbrook as The Corinthian, and Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer Morningstar. The Sandman season 1 adapts the first two volumes of Gaiman’s graphic novels, Preludes and Nocturnes and The Doll’s House.

The first five episodes encompass Preludes and Nocturnes, chronicling how Morpheus was imprisoned for over a century and went on a quest to retrieve his magical symbols of office and repair his realm, the Dreaming, upon his escape. The Sandman episode 6, “The Sound of Her Wings,” serves as an epilogue that introduces Death and Dream’s immortal friend, Hob Gadling (Ferdinand Kingsley). The final four episodes of The Sandman season 1 adapt The Doll’s House story, introducing Rose Walker (Vanesu Samunyai), a Dream Vortex, and featuring Morpheus’ final showdown with the renegade nightmare serial killer, the Corinthian. The Sandman season 2 is on the way, and will adapt more of Neil Gaiman’s groundbreaking graphic novels.

Related: The Sandman Season 1 Ending Explained (In Detail)

The Latest Sandman Season 2 News

The most recent Sandman season 2 news comes in the form of some set photos from the new season. The new Sandman set photos include Morpheus (Dream) talking to a new character dressed in all white. While it is unclear who this is, there is a good chance the character is Orpheus. Orpheus showed up for the first time in comics in Sandman #29, which was part of the Fables and Reflections storyline. Orpheus is the son of Morpheus and Calliope. However, this looks different because he was a disembodied head when introduced. This also ties in somewhat to the first season where Orpheus was name-dropped during Sandman’s bonus episode, where it was revealed he died a terrible death.

Considering how far along The Sandman season 2 is into production, there’s markedly less discussion around it from the creative team than when season 1 was on the way. There is a reason for this. Promotion of Sandman season 2 will likely be much lighter than for season 1, which means less behind-the-scenes news, as Neil Gaiman is not promoting the show while on strike. Although the Writers Guild of America strike impacted many shows and movies, all scripts for Sandman season 2 are finished and filming is underway.

Sandman Season 2 Is Confirmed

It took a little while after the first Sandman season ended before Sandman season 2 news about its renewal arrived. However, it only took three months for Netflix to announce that the show would get a second season. Neil Gaiman then followed up by letting fans know that this was true, and he was hard at work helping lead the show into the next Sandman season. There was some concern in January from fans who watched Netflix change its mind and cancel shows after renewal, but Gaiman eased the concerns and said the show is safe on the streamer.

Define “safe.” Netflix could go out of business before more Sandman launches. A new, nightmarish pestilence could close the world down completely. The actors could all be eaten by weasels and the show would be shuttered. But if there’s a Netflix and nothing unforeseen and tragic happens to close the world or the show down, then there will be more Sandman.

Unlike many authors who license their work out and then step back, Gaiman remains hand’s on with his past few projects. This includes The Sandman, and Gaiman sent out a message to fans on his Tumblr account regarding the next season. According to Gaiman, “Scripts are written. We are casting the first episode we will be shooting. Sets are being designed.” Indeed, prior to the 2023 writers strike, the most pressing of The Sandman season 2 news was that production had been ongoing.

However, it was also mentioned that the next season is not technically a “season.” The first season had 10 episodes, but actor Mason Alexander Park previously said that the next episodes would be released in batches instead of as a full season. This means The Sandman season 2 won’t be as many episodes as the first season, but might take the form of telling different stories from Gaiman’s Sandman comics. The next season is supposed to be based on the volume The Season of Mists, although there’s yet to be a confirmation that The Sandman season 2 will follow the same method as season 1 when adapting the source material.

Sandman Season 2 Release Date

There’s no The Sandman season 2 release date yet, but in January 2023 Desire actor Mason Alexander Park let slip that filming would start in summer 2023. With the ongoing 2023 WGA strike, however, it’s ultimately unclear when production can begin. Moreover, the second season might not be called “season 2” at all. The actor teased that the show could take on many different forms different from other streaming series, and there is a good chance it will get released in batches instead of as a full season.

Netflix has not gone on record as calling it a Season 2, on purpose. And so, I will, from now on and in the future, and possibly until the end of the universe not refer to it as Season 2 until we know what it is. There is more Sandman coming in a really cool way, and it can take many forms, so we’re starting shooting in the summer, and we’re gonna tackle the next huge chunk of stories in however long that might take. And I’m really excited to share the format of what that might be with everybody eventually.

How The WGA Strike Is Impacting The Sandman Season 2

Much of The Sandman season 2 news has been on the impact of the WGA strike, especially since Neil Gaiman is both an outspoken supporter and participant. “Whether or not any of Sandman is delayed depends on how long the strike goes,” explained Gaiman in a reply to a question on Tumblr. “And there won’t be scab scripts on Sandman.” Gaiman is just one of the many series creators and other celebrities such as George R.R. Martin who have voiced their support for the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike and halted the productions of their own shows.

In fact, Gaiman is a member of the WGA and is one of the over 11,000 WGA writers who went on strike on May 2, 2023. Moreover, The Sandman‘s home network is Netflix, which is a central figure in the streaming-related issues relevant to the ongoing mass action. All this means that there likely won’t be any more significant The Sandman season 2 news until the end of the 2023 writers’ strike, which could go on for months. Here’s Gaiman’s Twitter post on the day the strike began:

Sandman Season 2 Cast

There will be some big new additions to the Sandman season 2 cast. For one thing, Neil Gaiman has excitedly said he plans to bring in the youngest members of the Endless — Delirium. This character, when cast, will join the Endless already introduced in the first season. Tom Sturridge returns as Morpheus, the main character of the series. Also introduced in the first season were his sister Death (Kirby Howell-Baptiste) and the amazing Mason Alexander Park as Desire. It’s unclear if Donna Preston will return as Despair.

Boyd Holbrook teased a return as The Corinthian and Jenna Coleman also hinted she could be back as Johanna Constantine. Lucifer plays a big role in The Seasons of Mist, so expect Gwendoline Christie back as well. Also returning should be Ferdinand Kingsley as Hob Gadling and Razane Jammal as Lyta Hall. Other actors possibly returning include Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne and Patton Oswalt as the voice of Matthew the Raven.

Related: The Sandman Cast & Character Guide: Who Plays The New Sandman?

There Will Be Big Character Changes In The Sandman Season 2

Some of the latest Sandman season 2 news included a big change to the cast. This is in light of audiences criticizing how Despair (Donna Preston) — the only plus-sized character in season 1 — was “frumpy, depressed, and not really loved by anyone.” In response, Neil Gaiman plans to make character changes, admitting that the show “missed what we were aiming for,” and said that “the next time you see Despair on the screen you won’t think of her as frumpy, depressed and unloved.” For now, how the Despair Sandman season 2 changes will play out exactly remain unclear. That said, Gaiman’s positive response to the criticism is highly promising.

Gaiman’s response to the Despair criticism shows his commitment to equal representation, which is even more important in a grand epic like The Sandman, the sheer scale and ambition of which has made it a foundational and encompassing take on Western mythology. It was big of Gaiman to admit that one of the beloved Endless is actually outdated. Moreover, it will be interesting to see how any Despair Sandman season 2 changes can happen when the character isn’t integral to Season of Mists, which season 2 will adapt. In any case, it’ll give long-time readers of the graphic novels something decidedly new to look forward to.

Sandman Season 2 Story Details

If The Sandman season 2 follows season 1’s format of adapting two graphic novel volumes, then the next season of The Sandman will feature The Season of Mists. While Dream Country came first, encompassing a series of one-shot stories, including the popular “Dream of a Thousand Cats” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” The Season of Mists is one of the most popular and impactful Sandman stories. It’s set up by the end of The Sandman season 1 when Lucifer vowed revenge on Morpheus. It also gives closure to the story of Dream’s former lover, Nada, whom he banished to Hell 10,000 years ago.

It also reveals the name of Lyta Hall’s (Razane Jammal) baby who was born in the Dreaming. The Season of Mists further introduces Destiny and Delirium, two more members of the Endless, as well as Gaiman’s version of Norse gods Thor, Loki, and Odin. Neil Gaiman has already teased that Seasons of Mists will be the primary inspiration, although a one-shot from Dream Country is always possible. The first season remained very loyal to the written source material but made some notable changes, and with Gaiman as the executive producer, expect that to continue in Sandman season 2.