Neil Gaiman wooed The Sandman cowl artist Dave McKean out of retirement to work on Netflix’s sequence adaptation of his comedian books of the identical identify.

He divulged the “secret” as we speak at a Corridor H Comedian-Con panel for the sequence, which had him sitting down with showrunner-writer-EP Allan Heinberg, in addition to solid members Tom Sturridge, Vivienne Acheampong, Boyd Holbrook, Jenna Coleman, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Patton Oswalt, Mason Alexander Park and Vanesu Samunyai.

“When [development on] Sandman started, folks saved saying, is Dave McKean going to do one thing for [it]?” shared Gaiman. He added that even when McKean had beforehand retired from work on Sandman, he was in a position to persuade him to “do one thing” for the brand new sequence.

“Each episode has end-title credit, and it’s a special sequence for every episode,” mentioned Gaiman, “this wonderful, flowing movie that Dave McKean made.”

Gaiman additionally spoke, on the very finish of as we speak’s panel, in regards to the potential for a movie or sequence based mostly on his Elizabethan comedian e-book sequence Marvel 1602, printed from 2003-2004. He mentioned that he approached Marvel about an adaptation “about eight years in the past,” including that whereas these on the studio on the time mentioned “it wouldn’t” make for challenge, there was a lot turnaround in staffing there within the time since. So, who is aware of what the longer term would possibly maintain? “I’d like to see a brand new 1602 film or TV sequence,” he mentioned.

The Sandman is a 10-episode sequence billed as a “wealthy mix of contemporary fantasy and darkish fantasy through which modern fiction, historic drama, and legend are seamlessly interwoven.” It follows the folks and locations affected by Morpheus (Sturridge), the Dream King, as he tries to repair all of the cosmic and human errors he’s made throughout his huge existence. The present additionally stars Charles Dance, David Thewlis, Stephen Fry, Joely Richardson, Asim Chaudhry, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Mark Hamill and extra and can debut August 5. It’s produced by Warner Bros. Tv, with Heinberg exec producing alongside his fellow writers Gaiman and David S. Goyer.