A TV adaptation of Neil Gaiman's excellent Vertigo (DC) comic book series, The Sandman, is available to watch on Netflix.

It tells the tale of Dream (the eponymous Sandman), who is released after being held captive for 100 years and sets out to restore order to the Dreaming - the place we go to when we sleep.

It's heavily influenced by the books, so expect plenty of magical moments and horrors along the way.

The Sandman TV series release date

The Sandman is available now, having premiered on 5 August 2022.

How to watch The Sandman season 1

As a Netflix original, it is exclusive to the platform. You need to have a Netflix account, therefore.

How many episodes does The Sandman have?

There are 10 episodes of The Sandman season 1. All episodes are available on Netflix.

The Sandman season 1 plot and details

The series starts in roughly the same place as the comic books (as in the collected edition, Preludes and Nocturnes). Dream is captured by a cult and, more than 100 years later, is freed to find the Dreaming in disarray.

As one of the Endless, a group of siblings that also includes Destiny, Death, Destruction, Desire, Despair, and Delirium, his task is to maintain order over the realm where all lifeforms visit in their sleep. However, his captivity has caused unrest and it is spilling into the waking world.

He must therefore set out to correct the wrongs that have occurred in the last century, including recapture some horrors and nightmares that have crossed the boundaries.

The comic books feature other DC and Vertigo characters, such as John Constantine and Lucifer, that have also had their own TV series but, while Lucifer does appear in Netflix's The Sandman, it was decided early in pre-production not to cast Tom Ellis (who plays him in the eopnymous TV show). This doesn't tie into the other Netflix show, therefore.

The Sandman cast and crew

Dream is played by Tom Sturridge (The Hollow Crown), while Doctor Who's Jenna Coleman plays Johanna Constantine, a female version of the modern day sorcerer from the comics, John.

Gwendoline Christie of Game of Thrones fame is this series' version of Lucifer, and Kirby Howell-Baptiste (Killing Eve) is Dream's sister, Death.

British comedy actors Sanjeev Bhaskar and Asim Chaudhry play Cain and Abel respectively (our favourite characters from the Gaiman original).

Other stars appearing in the show include Stephen Fry, Mark Hamill (as the voice of Mervyn Pumpkinhead), and Charles Dance.

Is there a trailer for The Sandman season 1?

A main trailer can be seen below.

Will The Sandman be renewed for a second season?

The Sandman season 2 is on its way. Writer of the comic books and executive producer, Neil Gaiman, released a statement in early November 2022 confirming the commission:

"It gives me unbelievable pleasure to say that, working with Netflix and Warner Bros, Allan Heinberg, David Goyer and I will be bringing even more of The Sandman stories to life," he said.

"There are some astonishing stories waiting for Morpheus and the rest of them (not to mention more members of the Endless Family to meet). Nobody is going to be happier about this than the Sandman cast and crew: they are the biggest Sandman fans there are. And now it’s time to get back to work."