Game of Thrones creator George R. R. Martin and Neil Gaiman discuss The Sandman and how it could&#039;ve been a collaboration between the two.

&#8216;Game of Thrones&#8217; Creator Regrets Turning an Eye on Neil Gaiman’s &#8216;The Sandman&#8217;, Says “It is not the greatest decision I made&#8230;”

“If dreams disappear, then so will humanity.” Wise words from the King of Dreams
himself. Now that The Dreaming has come to life on our screens, perhaps The
Waking World can sleep peacefully. We are, of course, talking about the most
anticipated live-action adaptation of The Sandman that is now streaming on
Netflix. Multiple attempts made in the past to recreate Neil Gaiman’s
masterpiece never measured up. In fact, even the Game of Thrones creator, George
R. R. Martin, passed up the opportunity years ago.


GEORGE R. R. MARTIN TURNED DOWN THE SANDMAN

Recently, Netflix uploaded an exclusive video of George R. R. Martin
interviewing
[https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sandman-neil-gaiman-george-r-r-martin-interview]
The Sandman creator Neil Gaiman
[https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-a-journey-of-dreams-and-nightmares-it-took-neil-gaiman-32-years-to-bring-the-sandman-to-life/]
after watching the pilot episode. “It’s beautifully done. Gorgeous to look at.
wonderfully acted, and very very faithful to your story.“, stated Martin,
thoroughly appreciating the on-screen representation
[https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-originals-neil-gaimans-the-sandman-review-for-the-latest-netflix-fantasy-series/]
of the graphic novels. Neil Gaiman, in turn, also showered Martin with praise of
his own, saying “I was genuinely inspired by what you managed with Game of
Thrones.” 



It’s fascinating to think that had things gone a little differently, The Sandman
would’ve been a collaboration between Neil Gaiman and George R. R. Martin. For
his Wild Cards universe of superhero storytelling, Gaiman originally pitched The
Sandman character to Martin. While Martin declined Gaiman, he turned to DC
Comics instead, and there was no turning back then.

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]

“George has never let me forget that I owe Sandman to him.“, said Neil in a
moment of candor. George immediately replied with a chuckle and a, ” Yes, you
do.” Possibly regretting his past mistakes, George added, “It’s not the greatest
decision I made in my editing career.” Keeping in line with the subject matter,
Martin speculated, “maybe in some alternate world or in some realm of dream, I
accepted it.” One can’t help but wonder what could’ve been!

ALSO READ: How is ‘The Sandman’ Comic Adaption Different From Other Superheroes
?
[https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-originals-how-is-the-sandman-comic-adaption-different-from-other-superheroes-2/]


NEIL GAIMAN AND GEORGE R. R. MARTIN ON THEIR SHARED PERFORMERS

Delving more into the adaptation process, Gaiman shared, “It’s that thing where
you take the books that we loved and the people, and now we’re getting to see
versions of those people moving around saying those lines, and those things are
happening to them.” Neil also gave a special shout-out to actor Charles Dance,
one of the common “roughly treated” links between The Sandman and Game of
Thrones. The English actor played the Magus Roderick Burgess in The Sandman and
also portrayed the cold-hearted Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones.

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]

They even share their love for Gwendoline Christie, who once portrayed the
fierce Brienne of Tarth and is now embodying the formidable ruler of Hell
[https://netflixjunkie.com/?s=gwendoline+christie] as Lucifer Morningstar.
“She’s wonderful in so many ways.”, said Neil, showering “the nerd” within
Christie with genuine admiration. He also informed that Gwendoline “cared about
the stuff” and she “was the person on the Game of Thrones set who’d read the
books.” He said it was “incredibly obvious” for the “incredibly powerful
[https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-she-was-incredibly-powerful-neil-gaiman-justifies-why-he-gender-swapped-lucifer-in-the-sandman/]”
Gwendoline to be the beautiful devil in the world he created.

ALSO READ: Ahead of Release of ‘The Sandman’, Creators are Already Working on
Scripts of Season 2
[https://netflixjunkie.com/ahead-of-release-of-the-sandman-creators-are-already-working-on-scripts-of-season-2/]

While George and Neil did not get to collaborate on The Sandman, there are still
a lot of stories that haven’t been written yet. We, for one, are wistfully
hopeful that we will see a joint venture between the two of them create magic on
screen. Till then, watch The Sandman [https://www.netflix.com/in/title/81150303]
streaming on Netflix and let us know your thoughts.

Natasha Vijan

Comment

&#8216;Game of Thrones&#8217; Creator Regrets Turning an Eye on Neil Gaiman’s &#8216;The Sandman&#8217;, Says “It is not the greatest decision I made&#8230;” - Netflix Junkie

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Natasha is a writer at Netflix Junkie. Despite completing her Masters in Architecture from Hochschule Anhalt in Germany, she decided to follow her passion for storytelling.

Apart from working as an architect in the past, Natasha currently also ghostwrites for various travel and lifestyle blogs like italyfoodies.com, mypureplants.com and more. Moreover, she has also been involved as a screenplay analyst with Outstanding Screenplays London.

An avid cinephile, Natasha especially enjoys quirky dark comedies and gangster films. She can talk about films by Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie for days and even aspires to make her own film someday. When not at work, she can be found at at outdoor music concert or a stand-up gig. Additionally, she’s a feminist, LGBTQIA ally and a strong mental health advocate.

https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-game-of-thrones-creator-regrets-turning-an-eye-on-neil-gaimans-the-sandman-says-it-is-not-the-greatest-decision-i-made

&#8216;Game of Thrones&#8217; Creator Regrets Turning an Eye on Neil Gaiman’s &#8216;The Sandman&#8217;, Says “It is not the greatest decision I made&#8230;” - netflix-junkie

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Storyline

&#8220;If dreams disappear, then so will humanity.&#8221; Wise words from the King of Dreams himself. Now that The Dreaming has come to life on our screens, perhaps The Waking World can sleep peacefully. We are, of course, talking about the most anticipated live-action adaptation of The Sandman that is now streaming on Netflix. Multiple attempts made in the past to recreate Neil Gaiman&#8217;s masterpiece never measured up. In fact, even the Game of Thrones creator, George R. R. Martin, passed up the opportunity years ago.
<h2>George R. R. Martin turned down The Sandman</h2>
Recently, Netflix uploaded an exclusive video of George R. R. Martin <a href="https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sandman-neil-gaiman-george-r-r-martin-interview" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interviewing</a> <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-a-journey-of-dreams-and-nightmares-it-took-neil-gaiman-32-years-to-bring-the-sandman-to-life/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sandman creator Neil Gaiman</a> after watching the pilot episode. &#8220;It&#8217;s beautifully done. Gorgeous to look at. wonderfully acted, and very very faithful to your story.&#8220;, stated Martin, thoroughly appreciating the<a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-originals-neil-gaimans-the-sandman-review-for-the-latest-netflix-fantasy-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> on-screen representation</a> of the graphic novels. Neil Gaiman, in turn, also showered Martin with praise of his own, saying &#8220;I was genuinely inspired by what you managed with Game of Thrones.&#8221; 
<div class="flex-video widescreen youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="The Sandman | Official Trailer | Netflix" width="1170" height="658" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/83ClbRPRDXU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
It&#8217;s fascinating to think that had things gone a little differently, The Sandman would&#8217;ve been a collaboration between Neil Gaiman and George R. R. Martin. For his Wild Cards universe of superhero storytelling, Gaiman originally pitched The Sandman character to Martin. While Martin declined Gaiman, he turned to DC Comics instead, and there was no turning back then.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-43626 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/The-Sandman-George-RR-Martin-Featured-Image.jpg" alt="" width="1400" height="700" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/The-Sandman-George-RR-Martin-Featured-Image.jpg 1400w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/The-Sandman-George-RR-Martin-Featured-Image-300x150.jpg 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/The-Sandman-George-RR-Martin-Featured-Image-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/The-Sandman-George-RR-Martin-Featured-Image-768x384.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px" />
&#8220;George has never let me forget that I owe Sandman to him.&#8220;, said Neil in a moment of candor. George immediately replied with a chuckle and a, &#8221; Yes, you do.&#8221; Possibly regretting his past mistakes, George added, &#8220;It’s not the greatest decision I made in my editing career.&#8221; Keeping in line with the subject matter, Martin speculated, &#8220;maybe in some alternate world or in some realm of dream, I accepted it.&#8221; One can&#8217;t help but wonder what could&#8217;ve been!
ALSO READ: <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-originals-how-is-the-sandman-comic-adaption-different-from-other-superheroes-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How is ‘The Sandman’ Comic Adaption Different From Other Superheroes ?</a>
<h2>Neil Gaiman and George R. R. Martin on their shared performers</h2>
Delving more into the adaptation process, Gaiman shared, &#8220;It&#8217;s that thing where you take the books that we loved and the people, and now we&#8217;re getting to see versions of those people moving around saying those lines, and those things are happening to them.&#8221; Neil also gave a special shout-out to actor Charles Dance, one of the common &#8220;roughly treated&#8221; links between The Sandman and Game of Thrones. The English actor played the Magus Roderick Burgess in The Sandman and also portrayed the cold-hearted Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-43627 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/sandman-netflix.jpg" alt="" width="2000" height="1270" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/sandman-netflix.jpg 2000w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/sandman-netflix-300x191.jpg 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/sandman-netflix-1024x650.jpg 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/sandman-netflix-768x488.jpg 768w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/sandman-netflix-1536x975.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />
They even share their love for Gwendoline Christie, who once portrayed the fierce Brienne of Tarth and is now embodying the formidable <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/?s=gwendoline+christie" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ruler of Hell</a> as Lucifer Morningstar. &#8220;She&#8217;s wonderful in so many ways.&#8221;, said Neil, showering &#8220;the nerd&#8221; within Christie with genuine admiration. He also informed that Gwendoline &#8220;cared about the stuff&#8221; and she &#8220;was the person on the Game of Thrones set who&#8217;d read the books.&#8221; He said it was &#8220;incredibly obvious&#8221; for the &#8220;<a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-she-was-incredibly-powerful-neil-gaiman-justifies-why-he-gender-swapped-lucifer-in-the-sandman/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">incredibly powerful</a>&#8221; Gwendoline to be the beautiful devil in the world he created.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/ahead-of-release-of-the-sandman-creators-are-already-working-on-scripts-of-season-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ahead of Release of ‘The Sandman’, Creators are Already Working on Scripts of Season 2</a>
While George and Neil did not get to collaborate on The Sandman, there are still a lot of stories that haven&#8217;t been written yet. We, for one, are wistfully hopeful that we will see a joint venture between the two of them create magic on screen. Till then, watch <a href="https://www.netflix.com/in/title/81150303" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sandman</a> streaming on Netflix and let us know your thoughts.

Ahead of Release of ‘The Sandman’, Creators are Already Working on Scripts of
Season 2

How is ‘The Sandman’ Comic Adaption Different From Other Superheroes ?

https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/netflixjunkie-logo-2.jpg

https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/WhatsApp-Image-2022-08-06-at-10.55.44-AM.jpeg

Game of Thrones creator George R. R. Martin and Neil Gaiman discuss The Sandman and how it could've been a collaboration between the two.

'Game of Thrones' Creator Regrets Turning an Eye on Neil Gaiman’s 'The Sandman', Says “It is not the greatest decision I made...” - Netflix Junkie

Natasha is a writer at Netflix Junkie. Despite completing her Masters in Architecture from Hochschule Anhalt in Germany, she decided to follow her passion for storytelling. Apart from working as an architect in the past, Natasha currently also ghostwrites for various travel and lifestyle blogs like italyfoodies.com, mypureplants.com and more. Moreover, she has also been involved as a screenplay analyst with Outstanding Screenplays London. An avid cinephile, Natasha especially enjoys quirky dark comedies and gangster films. She can talk about films by Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie for days and even aspires to make her own film someday. When not at work, she can be found at at outdoor music concert or a stand-up gig. Additionally, she’s a feminist, LGBTQIA ally and a strong mental health advocate.

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&#039;Game of Thrones&#039; Creator Regrets Turning an Eye on Neil Gaiman’s &#039;The Sandman&#039;, Says “It is not the greatest decision I made...” - Netflix Junkie

https://www.netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-game-of-thrones-creator-regrets-turning-an-eye-on-neil-gaimans-the-sandman-says-it-is-not-the-greatest-decision-i-made/

‘Game of Thrones’ Creator Regrets Turning an Eye on Neil Gaiman’s ‘The Sandman’, Says “It is not the greatest decision I made…”

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