Joseph Gordon-Levitt signed on to direct and star in this adaptation of
Neil Gaiman's comic book, with Gaiman on board as an executive producer. However, in March 2016, Warner Bros. moved the project to its subsidiary, New Line Cinema, and Gordon-Levitt's choice for screenwriter,
Jack Thorne, was replaced by
Eric Heisserer, prompting Gordon-Levitt to leave the project because of creative differences. Gordon-Levitt confirmed his departure on Facebook, writing: "So, as you might know if you like to follow these sorts of things, a while back,
David Goyer and I made a producing deal with Warner Brothers to develop a movie adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Sandman," Gordon-Levitt wrote. "Neil himself came on as an executive producer, we hired the excellent screenwriter, Jack Thorne, and we started in on the ambitious task of adapting one of the most beloved and boundary-pushing titles in the world of comics. I was pleased with the progress we were making, even though we still had quite a ways to go. Recently, as you also might know if you like to follow these sorts of things, the sorta 'ownership' (for lack of a better term) of the Sandman material changed hands when Warner Brothers shifted the entire catalogue of Vertigo Comics (an imprint of DC) to their subsidiary, New Line. And a few months ago, I came to realize that the folks at New Line and I just don't see eye to eye on what makes Sandman special, and what a film adaptation could/should be. So unfortunately, I decided to remove myself from the project. I wish nothing but the best for the team moving forward. I'd like to thank all the great people I've had the opportunity to work with on this one. I've had a blast with and learned a ton from David and Jack.
Niija Kuykendall,
Greg Silverman, and everyone at Warner Brothers have been fantastic, as have
Geoff Johns and everyone at DC. And it's been a particular privilege as well as a rocking good time getting to know Mr. Gaiman, whose generous insights and masterful work have certainly convinced me that the Lord of Dreams and the Prince of Stories are one and the same Endless pattern."
