Netflix’s Sandman: Why a Major Comic Arc Was Cut and What’s Coming in Season 2
Netflix’s adaptation of The Sandman has made some big changes compared to Neil Gaiman’s legendary comic series—and one of the most surprising is the complete removal of the “A Game of You” arc. If you’re a fan wondering why your favorite dreamland adventure didn’t make it to the screen, you’re not alone. The show’s creators have finally explained what happened—and the reasoning behind it might just surprise you.
- Why Netflix cut the “A Game of You” storyline from The Sandman
- How viewer habits changed the show’s structure
- What’s coming in season 2 and how the story will wrap up
- Behind-the-scenes production challenges and new release dates
Why “A Game of You” Didn’t Make the Cut
Let’s get straight to the point: showrunner Allan Heinberg and his team actually wrote scripts for “A Game of You”—but they were never filmed. Why? According to Heinberg, Netflix’s audience wants a clear main character to follow and root for. Whenever the show shifted focus away from Dream (Tom Sturridge) to other protagonists, like Rose Walker, viewers kept asking: “Why am I following this person? Why aren’t I following Dream?” This feedback led the team to rethink their approach.
What’s in the Arc?
If you missed it, “A Game of You” is a fan-favorite story that barely features Dream at all. Instead, it centers on Barbie—a minor character from season 1—and her wild dream adventures. Heinberg had plans for a three-episode run, including the introduction of Thessaly, an ancient witch and Dream’s future love interest. But as Heinberg explained, “Netflix executives told the writers they would have to shift the story’s focus to Dream to keep viewers from getting restless.”
Streamlining for TV: Fewer Detours, More Dream
After “a hard conversation,” Heinberg said, “They asked, ‘What would happen if we lost A Game of You altogether?’ It actually works great, because A Game of You doesn’t actually affect Dream’s arc in any way.” Instead, the show will dive deeper into Dream’s relationship with Queen Nada, a key character he meets in Hell. The result? The adaptation will finish Dream’s story in just two seasons, not three. Season 2 will have 11 episodes focused on Dream, and a 12th special episode adapting Death: The High Cost of Living—Gaiman’s acclaimed spin-off about Dream’s sister, Death (Kirby).
Special Bonus: Death Gets Her Spotlight
Neil Gaiman always wanted to adapt Death: The High Cost of Living as a movie (even with Guillermo del Toro!), but the team decided to make it the emotional finale of season 2. Heinberg explained, “Everybody adores Kirby, and we wanted to leave the season feeling loving and hopeful after being in such a dark place for so long.”
One Vision, One Director: A Tighter Season 2
Season 2 of The Sandman is looking more focused than ever. All episodes are directed by Jamie Childs, who already proved his skills in season 1’s chilling “24/7” episode. “Our show is sort of one long movie, and I think having that one point of view directorially really helps in terms of clarity of storytelling and tone,” Heinberg said.
Behind the scenes, production wasn’t easy. Filming started just before the 2023 Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA strikes, forcing the team to shoot out of order and tackle the toughest scenes first. “This show is absolutely impossible, but it’s all attributable to Samson and his scheduling and his budgeting. We couldn’t have done it without him,” Heinberg admitted.
Release Dates and What’s Next
Ready to binge? The first six episodes of The Sandman season 2 drop on Netflix on July 3. The second half of the season lands on July 24, and the special episode Death: The High Cost of Living arrives July 31.
If you’re curious how all these changes will play out, keep your eyes peeled—Dream’s story is about to reach its epic conclusion, with a little help from Death herself. Don’t miss it!
