We’ve heard about plans for a live-action adaptation of Sandman since the 1990s, but it was only in the last few years that we witnessed any significant progress. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was set to direct and star in the movie, based on a script by Jack Thorne and produced by David S. Goyer and Neil Gaiman.
But earlier this year, Gordon-Levitt left the Sandman movie due to disagreements with New Cinema Line. Nevertheless, we were still hopeful about the movie heading forward as the studio hired Eric Heisserer, who is known for penning scripts for Final Destination 5, Hours, and Lights Out, as its new screenwriter.
However, we may have to let go of our dreams of seeing a live-action Sandman movie, as Heisserer has dropped out, too. The scribe announced this in a recent interview with io9. He said that Sandman would be better adapted for television than for the big screen. He explains:
Eric Heisserer – the scribe who just left the Sandman movie! (Photo Credit – Assignment X)
I had many conversations with Neil [Gaiman] on this, and I did a lot of work on the feature, and came to the conclusion that the best version of this property exists as an HBO series or limited series, not as a feature film, not even as a trilogy. The structure of the feature film really doesn't mesh with this. So I went back and said, “Here's the work that I've done. This isn't where it should be. It needs to go to TV.” So I talked myself out of a job!
And it actually seems like Sandman creator Neil Gaiman agrees with Eric Heisserer, as he shared the report via his official Twitter account. Check out his tweet below!
The very smart @HIGHzurrer leaves Sandman movie, with a message: https://t.co/k6CE9lAQhN
"” Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) November 3, 2016
Whether the studio will drop plans for a Sandman movie and develop a television series or hire another scribe remains to be seen.
