The Sandman is a series of audio dramas written byNeil Gaiman based on his comic bookof the same name. They are directed byDirk Maggs, with music byJames Hannigan, and produced byAudible.[1] The first volume of the series,The Sandman debuted on July 15, 2020, and is composed of twenty episodes covering the first three volumes of the graphic novel.[2][3]The Sandman: Act II debuted on September 22, 2021[4] andThe Sandman: Act III debuted on September 28, 2022.[5]
In volume one, Morpheus escapes after seventy years of imprisonment to rebuild his kingdom.[6] In volume two, Morpheus travels to hell to rescue queen Nada.[7] In volume three, Morpheus and his sister Delirium search out their estranged brother Destruction.[5]
Dirk Maggs previously collaborated with Neil Gaiman to produce audio adaptations of his novelsGood Omens andNeverwhere.[8] Maggs and Gaiman had wanted to create a BBC audio drama adaptation ofThe Sandman comics since 1992.[9] The show uses the original script that Gaiman wrote for the comics.[10]
On August 10, 2023, Neil Gaiman said that Audible Acts IV and V are currently in production.[11]
The show was a 2022 People's Voice Winner at theWebby Awards in the Original Music Score/Best Sound Design Category, and a People's Voice Winner at the 2023Webby Awards.[12][13] The show won an Earphones Award.[14] The show was a finalist in the 2022Audie Award for Fantasy.[15]
According to Audible, the first installment had a record-breaking number of pre-orders and was the best-selling Audible Original in the company's history.[16] The second installment was the second best-selling Audible Original for the first 90 days.[17]
