Neil Gaiman Still Dreaming Of Sandman Television Series

The Vertigo comicbook series Sandman is one of Neil Gaiman's most notable works that's won numerous awards and earned itself a place in the New York Times best seller list along with a few number of graphic novels.

There have been many attempts at adapting the graphic novel series in film and television, and right now it seems like the project remains underwater after screenwriter Eric Heisserer followed the intended Morpheus, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and quit.

However, now that Gaiman's novel American Gods is taking off on Starz this week, the esteemed fantasy and science-fiction writer expresses his hope to bring Sandman to the small screen right next.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Gaiman said that he'd very much like to take Sandman to television if he had control over the rights to graphic novel series.

"If I had control over Sandman, which I do not, because I signed the deal when I was 26, and I knew what I was getting into."

"The trouble with Warners, and I don't blame them for it, is they know that Sandman is one of the jewels in their crown — and they know that with the jewels in your crown, you make movies out of them. And they know they have Batman. 'We know what we have in Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Sandman… we just can't crack Sandman.' You can't crack it, because it's too big!"

Gaiman hopes that Starz' television adaptation of American Gods might help Warner bros. see that Sandman is actually meant for the small screen.

"I suspect in a weird way, the fact that they took a tiny fragment of Sandman and now it's one of Fox's biggest hits might actually convince people to do the classy TV series I've been suggesting they do for 15 years now."

"For a long time, I've been saying with a movie, you'll have to throw so many things out," he continues. "Why not take all the things that make [it difficult to adapt], take all the bugs in Sandman, and make them features. The fact that you have 75 issues, plus a whole bunch of stories? You have 80 episodes. That's a good thing! The fact that you have adult themes and adult things? That's now a good thing. It will be very strange to take Sandman to TV, but I really do think it's the most important thing we could do. And I hope if American Gods goes big? Between that and Lucifer, that could help."

Of course Gaiman is right – anyone who's read Sandman knows just how vast and expansive the universe of the graphic novel is. Warner Bros. would dilute the flavor of the material if they tried to condense everything in one movie. Let's just hope that they finally realize it.

American Gods premieres on Sunday, April 30 at 9pm on Starz.

Read: American Gods Actor Spinoffs Already In Discussion; Neil Gaiman Universe Compared To MCU