[Update:Joseph Gordon-Levitthas now exited the project altogether.Full story here.]
It’s been a while since we heard much about Warner Bros.’ adaptation of theNeil GaimancomicThe Sandman. The project initially materialized in late 2013 with the involvement ofJoseph Gordon-Levittand writer/producerDavid S. Goyer, with Gordon-Levitt attached to direct and star in the film. The following year, Gordon-Levitt said hewas working on the scriptwith Gaiman and Goyer, butthen the film switched studios, with Warner Bros. shifting its Vertigo Comics properties over to New Line while it focused its efforts on DC Comics projects.
Now, however, the project is firmly moving forward with a new writer, asVarietyreports thatFinal Destination 5andThe Conjuring 2screenwriterEric Heissererhas come aboard to pen the script forThe Sandman, with Gordon-Levitt set to direct and star. Heisserer’s credits are heavy with genre fare, but he also pennedSicariodirectorDenisVilleneuve’s next film, the first contact sci-fi picThe Story of Your LifestarringAmyAdams.
We actually first heard word about a new writer last fall,when Steve spoke with Goyerwho revealed they had just started a re-write with “a really fantastic writer.” He declined to name Heisserer at the time, but he did comment on the film’s move from Warner Bros. to New Line:
“I think that the Vertigo properties are a bit more quirky and off-center than kind of the mainstream superhero stuff at Warners. But I understand the decision because we’re not having to fight for release dates with the Vertigo stuff like we would have been having to do over at Warner Bros. But I feel confident that film will go into production hopefully next year.”
Gaiman’s sci-fi/fantasy comic series follows Morpheus, who is basically the god of dreams, so there’s plenty of visual potential with this feature film. Gordon-Levitt’s been quite busy as of late and recently committed to starring inan R-rated musical withChanning Tatum, but one imagines he’s itching to get back behind the camera after his promising 2013 directorial debutDon Jon. With the hiring of a new writer, and with Goyer’s hope that filming gets underway in 2016, it looks as thoughThe Sandmanmay finally be heating up.
