The first part of The Sandman Season 2 is now on Netflix, continuing Dream’s (Tom Sturridge) journey of restoring and rebuilding his kingdom. But despite being based on one of the most beloved comic series of all time, many are wondering: why is it ending after just two seasons?
The TV adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s comic book series of the same name debuted on Netflix in 2022 and was renewed for a second season later that year.
However, it wasn’t until January 2025 that Netflix announced the show would conclude with a 10-episode second season.
The decision also comes after Gaiman was accused of sexual assault and misconduct by several women—allegations he has vehemently denied.
So, as The Sandman’s sudden ending surprises many, the question remains: is it connected to the controversy surrounding Gaiman or is it a creative decision by Netflix?
Why Is The Sandman Only Getting Two Seasons?
In the comic book, the original The Sandman ran for 75 issues from 1989 to 1996 and has since been expanded with several spin-offs and continuations.
With that in mind, the series has more than enough material to adapt for the small screen, so its abrupt ending has sparked widespread discussion and speculation among fans.
However, while the show could have continued beyond two seasons, showrunner Allan Heinberg confirmed that the series was always intended to focus solely on Dream, also known as Morpheus, and that ending it was a creative decision made prior to the release of Season 2.
“The Sandman series has always been focused exclusively on Dream's story, and back in 2022, when we looked at the remaining Dream material from the comics, we knew we only had enough story for one more season,” he told Variety.
It was also reported that Warner Bros. Television, one of the show’s production companies, had planned to end The Sandman after two seasons while it was still filming in 2023.
Producing the fantasy drama also came with a hefty price tag, with Deadline reporting that each episode cost around $15 million to make.
So, with the limited focus on Dream’s story and the fact that the decision was made before the sexual abuse allegations against Gaiman surfaced in July 2024, ending The Sandman after just two seasons seem to be a purely creative decision.
What are the Rumors Surrounding The Sandman’s Ending?
The timing of The Sandman’s cancellation announcement came shortly after the allegations against Gaiman came to light.
In a Tortoise Media podcast series, five women accused the writer of sexual assault occurring between 1986 and 2022.
Allegedly, these women had experienced “rough and degrading” sex at the hands of Gaiman, with some encounters reportedly not consensual.
Gaiman denied “any unlawful behavior” in a statement to Tortoise Media and called the allegations disturbing.
He later published a lengthy journal post to deny additional accusations after more details of the alleged assaults became public in January, insisting that “some of the horrible stories now being told simply never happened.”
Given that these revelations coincided with Netflix’s announcement that The Sandman Season 2 would be the show’s last, showrunner Allan Heinberg described it as “unfortunate timing, for sure.”
The first part of The Sandman Season 2, composed of six episodes, is now streaming on Netflix, while the second part, consisting of five episodes, will be released on July 24. A bonus episode is also set to drop on July 31.
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