"The Sandman" Has Arrived – Here's The Cast And Everything You Need To Know

From the Endless siblings to the voice of Mark Hamill, and everything in between.

It's been a long time coming, but the wait is finally over – the Netflix adaptation of The Sandman is finally here!

The 10-part series comes more than 30 years after the original comics were first published, with creator Neil Gaiman right at the helm, alongside Allan Heinberg and David S. Goyer.

Here's what you need to know – from the main characters to episode titles, and everything in between.

Dream – Tom Sturridge

Netflix

Master of Dreams, Morpheus, Sandman – a being of many names, the Lord of Dreams himself, and ruler of the Dream Realm. Without giving any spoilers, Dream's been through a lot, and as far as protagonists go, he's about as complex as you can get. After being captured for decades, he's on a quest to track down and retrieve what was taken from him.

Tom's played quite a few very iconic figures from the literature world, both real and fictional. He was Lord Byron in Mary Shelley and Tom Gulliver in Gulliver's Travels, so it's no surprise he caught Neil Gaiman's eye for this legendary role.

Death – Kirby Howell-Baptiste

Netflix

Dream's older sister who, contrary to what you'd expect, is pretty easygoing and kind. Of all the Endless siblings, `Dream's the closest to Death, and one of his biggest confidantes.

If you've watched TV in the past few years, Kirby's probably popped up on your screen. She was Elena in Killing Eve, Sasha in Barry, and Simone in The Good Place, and Disney fans will also know Kirby from the live-action Cruella.

Desire – Mason Alexander Park

Netflix

Dream's younger androgynous sibling, and easily one of the most fashionable characters in the series. They're the embodiment of everything you want, so the chaotic energy is strong.

Mason has quite a stack of stage credits and won a Helen Hayes Award for their performance in Cabaret in 2020. They also lend their voice to The Legend of Vox Machina and play Gren in the Netflix adaptation of Cowboy Bebop. 

Despair – Donna Preston

Netflix

Despair is Desire's twin sister, but they're definitely not the identical kind. As her name would suggest, she's the bleakest of the Endless siblings. 

Brits will know Donna from her pranks on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show. The Sandman isn't her only Netflix project this year either – she played Fat Pat in Catherine Tate's Hard Cell.

Lucienne – Vivienne Acheampong

Netflix

Lucienne's the chief librarian of the Dreaming and so much more. Wise, loyal, and collected, she's responsible for holding things down in Dream's realm in his absence.

Fantasy, comedy, drama; Vivienne does it all. She was in the hilarious sketch series Famalam, the 2020 adaptation of The Witches, and played Grace in the Netflix sci-fi series The One.

Matthew the Raven – Patton Oswalt

Netflix

Here we have Dream's Lucienne-appointed right-hand guy, responsible for all the typical tasks you'd expect from a winged emissary (but much chattier).

Patton's voice should be very familiar – he's the guy behind Remy from Ratatouille and narrator of The Goldbergs, to name a few.

The Corinthian – Boyd Holbrook

Netflix

The Corinthian is a Nightmare (the eyes say it all), and while he was created by Dream, he's way more interested in the waking world than the Dreaming. When we meet The Corinthian, he's out wreaking some pretty sadistic havoc.

You'll most likely recognise Boyd as Agent Steve Murphy from Narcos, or Mike from The Fugitive, and he's also set to be in the next Indiana Jones movie.

Mervyn Pumkinhead – Nicholas Anscombe and the voice of Mark Hamill.

Netflix

Merv is Dream's jaded old janitor – the pumpkin-headed embodiment of 'over it,' complete with sarcastic quips. 

Nicholas, who's playing Oscar Wilde in the upcoming Beautiful Monsters, is a puppeteer, movement artist, and prosthetics performer. So, if you've seen Requiem or Twirlywoos, you've seen his work. And then we have the Mark Hamill. We all know Mark as Luke Skywalker, but he's very much a heavyweight in the voiceover world and has been the voice of the Joker 30 years.

Lucifer Morningstar – Gwendoline Christie

Netflix

I don't think Lucifer really needs much of an introduction, but since we're here: Lucifer is the restless ruler of Hell, and like all machiavellian masterminds, is full of elegance and charm. 

Gwendoline's a pro when it comes to fantasy – she was nominated for a whole host of awards for her performance as Brienne of Tarth in Game of Thrones, so you can expect to be impressed by Lucifer.

Roderick Burgess – Charles Dance

Netflix

The self-titled Lord Magus who, on a mission to track down Death, ends up capturing (and robbing) Dream. He's not a nice guy.

Charles Dance plays villains oh so well, and he slips into this role seamlessly. You'll know (and probably hate) him as Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones or Lord Mountbatten from The Crown.

Ethel Cripps – Joely Richardson and Niamh Walsh

Netflix

Ethel was Roderick's mistress and a member of his Order of Ancient Mysteries, until she up and left with some very important possessions. Between the stolen treasures and her son John, Ethel plays a big part in Dream's fate.

From The Tudors to Nip/Tuck, Joely's been in a lot. If you grew up in the '90s, you probably know her best as Anita from 101 Dalmations, which is the same character Kirby plays in Cruella! This isn't Niamh's first time working with Neil Gaiman – she was in Good Omens and she also voiced Nuala in the audiobook of The Sandman: Act II.

John Dee – David Thewlis

Netflix

The aforementioned John – as you can see from the dejected look and litre of ice cream, things aren't going great for him. He's got a sketchy past and is on a mission for truth, putting the entire world in danger in the process. 

David's done it all, but let's face it: he'll always be Remus Lupin. Most recently we've seen him in Fargo, Wonder Woman, and Big Mouth.

Johanna Constantine – Jenna Coleman

Netflix

There are two Johannas in the series of The Sandman – 18th-century aristocrat Lady Johanna and her modern-day descendant – both of which cross paths with Dream. In the present, Johanna's an occult detective, necromancer, and all-round badass who helps Dream track down one of his lost possessions.

Jenna's already been in two huge franchises and she's no stranger to travelling through time and space, playing Connie in Captain America: The First Avenger and Clara Oswald in Doctor Who.

Rose Walker – Vanesu Samunyai

Netflix

Rose is looking for her missing brother but ends up making some unexpected discoveries during her search. She finds family and powers she didn't know she had, and an unescapable connection to the Dream realm.

According to her IMDB page, this is Vanesu's first pro acting credit, and judging by her performance, it won't be the last.

Gilbert – Stephen Fry

Netflix

The mysterious Gilbert joins Rose on her mission, acting as her protector. 

Stephen Fry is a man of many talents, to put things lightly. You might know him best from QI, his portrayal of Oscar Wilde, his many many documentaries and novels, or even his audiobook narrations. The guy's done it all.

Unity Kincaid – Sandra James-Young

Netflix

Another mysterious character with a big connection to Rose and the Dreaming. When Dream was captured back in 1916, she fell victim to the sleepy curse and has only recently woken from a century-long sleep.

Sandra's a pretty big deal in the British TV world; she played Fiona in Eastenders, Selina in Corrie, and Chrisse in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, to name a few.

So there we have the who's who of the main characters. Now, if you're a fan of the comics and can't get your head around how they've managed to tell such a big story in just 10 chapters, here's a ~ spoiler-free ~ peek into the episodes.

Chapter 1: “Sleep of the Just”

Netflix

This episode shares a title with the first issue of the comic book, and it’s here we see how Dream came to be captured. Alongside Dream, we’re introduced to the Burgess family and the Order of Ancient Mysteries.

Chapter 2: “Imperfect Hosts”

Netflix

In this episode, we meet some of the residents of the Dreaming, including Lucienne, and Cain & Abel – the first murderer and first victim. Dream also learns the extent to which his absence has impacted the world.

Chapter 3: “Dream a Little Dream of Me”

Netflix

Here we see Johanna Constantine (the present day one) in action, performing an exorcism. She’s also dealing with some pretty intense dreams when Morpheus steps onto the scene. Meanwhile, Ethel pays a desperate visit to her son John.

Chapter 4: “A Hope in Hell”

Netflix

In chapter four Dream and Matthew pay Lucifer a little visit in Hell. Dream’s got a one-track mind (he wants his Helm back) but Lucifer has a proposition for him. 

Chapter 5: “24/7”

Netflix

So this episode has elements of issue 6 of the comic series – John’s sitting in a diner watching the drama around him unfold around. Can’t really say more on that but you’ll see what happens.

Chapter 6: “The Sound of Her Wings”

Netflix

We’re finally introduced to Dream’s older sister Death, and we see how close they are as he accompanies him on her day of work. Dream’s got some big existential questions and Death gives him the pep talk he needs. We also meet Lady Johanna in 1789 and the immortal Hob Gadling over the course of a few centuries.

Chapter 7: "The Doll's House"

Netflix

With the same name as volume II of the comic series, chapter seven starts off in 2015 Florida where we meet Jed and Rose, two siblings caught between their parent’s split. We later find a grown-up Rose in the UK with a friend Lyta, where she meets her journey finally takes a positive turn. Meanwhile, there’s a macabre convention coming up and they’re desperate for The Corinthian to make an appearance.

Chapter 8: “Playing House”

Netflix

Dream gets closer to retrieving his creations and Rose continues her search for her brother, meeting some new faces on the way.

Chapter 9: “ Collectors”

Netflix

Rose brings Lyta up to speed on all the wild going ons, and we learn that she may be in deeper than things first appeared. She sets out on a road trip with Gilbert, and the much-anticipated convention finally takes place.

Chapter 10: “Lost Hearts”

Netflix

Rose is faced with a big decision, and Dream is faced with a big confrontation.

Are you a fan of The Sandman? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and keep an eye out for more articles on the series!