Joseph Gordon-Levitt Bringing the Sandman to Life

The Neil Gaiman “Sandman” series has been a permanent fixture on my desk for many years.  Every so often I like to pick up one of the volumes and leaf through the pages, silently admiring and loathing Gaiman’s ability to string words together.  If you’ve never read the series, I highly recommend you go check it out.  Or you could just wait for the movie (but don’t).

Yes, “The Sandman” is on it’s way to becoming a major motion picture.  Deadline has learned that actor/director/writer Joseph Gordon-Levitt (“Don Jon”) has boarded the project to serve as producer with David Goyer.  The project will be put together at Warner Bros. which handles all DC/Vertigo comic related properties.

At the time of this writing, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is only attached to produce.  However, Deadline is saying that he may also star and direct the picture.  For now, it would seem as if Joseph is sticking to the role of producer and leaving the rest in the realm of possibility.  ”I’ve signed on as a producer on Sandman. The rest remains to be seen.” He told his followers on Twitter.

“The Sandman” was written by Neil Gaiman in the late eighties and ran to the mid-nineties and centered on a character named Dream.  The character is a mythical being who acts as the Lord of Dreams, he is one of many other figures who serve various roles to keep the universe in balance.  For example, Death is another figure who plays a prominent role in the “Sandman” series.

In the first volume, Dream is captured by an occultist and held prisoner for several decades. Upon his escape, Dream embarks on a quest to find three artifacts of power that will help him reclaim his kingdom.  A quest that’ll force him to confront the darkest elements of humanity and the legions of hell.