Exclusive: Insider Updates on The Sandman Part 2 Filming Amid Actors & Writers Strike
The Sandman Part 2 Filming Faces Uncertainty Amidst Industry Turmoil & Creative Standstill Hollywood's future hangs in the balance
The Sandman part 2's filming has been halted due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, as per Neil Gaiman, the creator. Adapted from Gaiman's popular graphic novel series, the Netflix show revolves around Lord Morpheus, the cosmic controller of dreams, as he attempts to reclaim his realm after being imprisoned for more than a hundred years. Following the immense success of the initial episodes, The Sandman was swiftly approved for additional episodes, with filming commencing in late June.
Shortly after the expiry of the renewal contract between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), Gaiman announced via BlueSky (as reported by GamesRadar+) that production for The Sandman part 2 has come to a complete halt. The prolific author and creator expressed solidarity with both striking groups and expressed optimism for a future agreement. Read Gaiman's statement below:
Hollywood Is In A Real Tough State Right Now
The SAG-AFTRA strike is currently ongoing, causing the complete suspension of the production of Sandman and other projects that managed to continue despite the absence of writers. It is my sincere hope that the AMPTP recognizes the importance of resolving the issue and resumes negotiations with both the actors and the writers. However, regrettably, there is currently no indication that they will act rationally.
The support of the Sandman creator for the simultaneous strikes is unsurprising. Gaiman had predicted delays due to the WGA strike as early as May. He made it clear that any setbacks would only last as long as the strike, and that he would not tolerate the creation of "scab scripts" during production. Now, with the commencement of the SAG-AFTRA strike, the entire production of the show comes to a standstill, as the entertainment industry finds itself in a deadlock.
Both unions are currently battling to protect their jobs from being taken over by artificial intelligence (AI) and to ensure fair compensation. The end of the strikes remains uncertain. As for The Sandman, the creators have been cautious about revealing any news about additional episodes in recent times. They have kept most details under wraps, except for hints about certain characters joining the upcoming batch of episodes, like Delirium. Production for The Sandman part 2 is still on hold due to the ongoing strikes. Neil Gaiman's steadfast support for actors is likely rooted in his support for writers as well. He even joined the WGA strike alongside fellow Sandman authors and the Game of Thrones team when their respective shows were on hiatus. Despite completing almost a month of production before the filming shutdown, it remains to be seen if an extended strike will result in a delay beyond 2024 for the release of the next set of episodes.
Source: GamesRadar+
