‘The Sandman’ Season 2: Release Date Speculation and What We Know So Far

Fans of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman were thrilled when the series based on the comics hit Netflix on August 5, 2022. Since then, many viewers have wondered when (if ever) a second season will arrive.

Short answer: No one knows yet. What we do know, though, is that the series has received an official approval for another season. And filming for the new season was expected to start on June 23, 2023, in London.

However, production was delayed due to the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike. The first block of filming was to go from June through October 2023. And a second block of filming was planned for shortly after from January through April 2024.

Here’s everything else we know about Season 2 so far and what the story might hold.

At Least Some Scripts Already Exist

The WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes will need to wrap before the team at The Sandman can move forward with a second season. That said, there’s reason to believe the WGA strike in particular might not play as significant a role in the delay as some would assume. 

Neil Gaiman himself has stated that The Sandman‘s writers already penned scripts for the next season back in 2022. Thus, once the SAG-AFTRA strike ends, the team may be ready to start production sooner than anticipated. However, if the WGA strike continues, the series may still face delays if the existing scripts still need work.

The Sandman Season 2 Filming Was Scheduled for This Summer

While we know that production on Season 2 of The Sandman was scheduled to begin in June (under the working title “ESSEX”), some reports have suggested that filming did begin, at least to some extent. Specifically, production designer Jon Gary Steele tweeted a reply to a fan question indicating that shooting had begun.

Steele eventually deleted the tweet. Why he did so remains unknown. Regardless, Gaiman has made it clear that production stopped when the SAG-AFTRA strike began.

Although production can’t start up again until the strike resolves, fans may at least rest easy, knowing that production is likely to begin fairly quickly once it’s possible to do so.

It’s clear that fans shouldn’t expect any new episodes of The Sandman in 2023. That said, depending on when the SAG-AFTRA strike ends, there remains a chance that new episodes of the series will appear on Netflix later in 2024. 

Netflix Isn’t Calling it “Season 2”

Fans who eagerly anticipate Season 2 of The Sandman should be aware that Netflix isn’t actually referring to the continuation of the series as, well, Season 2. As of this writing, it’s not thoroughly clear why that is.

Speaking with Variety, Peter Friedlander, head of UCAN scripted TV at Netflix, has said, “There are decisions that haven’t been made. But we are considering batching approaches. Everything’s on the table when it comes to ‘Sandman.’ It’s an innovative show.” 

Acknowledging the cryptic nature of his comments, Friedlander added, “The show, I think, was so popular because it was such a discovery. And it was such an invention. That’s what we’re trying to honor as we continue to tell this story. And it shouldn’t follow any path other than its own. I genuinely believe that. And I want to help tell the story in that way with Neil and Allan, and protect the storytelling so it’s the best experience it can be. And so part of that is also just keeping it secret till we know more!”

The main point fans should keep in mind is that all signs still point to a continuation of The Sandman at Netflix. Why Netflix refuses to officially call this continuation a second season remains to be seen.

Certain New Characters Are Likely to Appear

The Sandman comic universe is home to many characters who didn’t appear in the first season of the Netflix adaptation. Fans who are wondering whether any missing characters will show up in the second season (or whatever Netflix decides to call it!) may be pleased to know that, according to an exclusive from What’s On Netflix, in early 2023, casting was underway for the following roles: Delirium, Destruction, Destiny, and Wanda.

Reports also indicate casting began for the characters of Thord, Odin, Loki, King Auberon, and Queen Titania. The degree to which the next season will feature all these new characters is unknown as of yet.

Still, the fact that they are likely to appear at all highlights the fact that Season 2 of The Sandman will expand the universe of the show.

Episode 11 of the First Season May Offer Hints About The Sandman Season 2

Casting news can help some die-hard Sandman fans develop more informed theories about what storylines from the comics future episodes may follow. Other than that, however, there has been minimal news regarding what Season 2 will actually be about.

Minimal news, but not necessarily no news. Responding on Tumblr to a fan who wanted an explanation about why Episode 11 of Season 1 seems to have little to do with the rest of the show, Gaiman has stated that fans can think of that episode as a “bridge” to the next season. As with so many details about Season 2, we’ll have to wait and see what exactly that means.

Fortunately, there is definitely reason to believe all these questions will be answered one day. We may not know precisely when The Sandman‘s next season will arrive. But we do know it’s on its way eventually. We’ll keep this post updated as more news surfaces.