NoScans - VERY unexpected news regarding Netflix "The Sandman"

[icon_uk]

It's just been announced that a special two-part BONUS episode has dropped on Netflix

It covers two stories: "Calliope" and "The Dream of A Thousand Cats"



Much to my own surprise, my wish has come true and "The Dream of a Thousand Cats" IS being told in animated form, with a voice cast including Sandra Oh, Rosie Day, David Gyasi, James McAvoy, David Tennant, Michael Sheen and Tom Wu.

Calliope features Melissanthi Mahut, Arthur Darvill and Sir Derek Jacobi!

Watch on YouTube

Well, that's tonights TV sorted for me then!
 

Comments

[mister_terrific]

So I would assume that under no circumstances should anyone allow their cats to watch this special?

Because otherwise, the world is screwed. :)

[cygnia]

My cats already own me. :)

[zachbeacon]

It says a lot that Netflix could accidentally doom humanity and still be thought of more favorably than the people running HBO Max now.

[mastermahan]

Netflix announced secret extra Sandman the same day HBO Max surprise removed Infinity Train and a bunch of other shows.

Pretty sure WB Discovery's CEO is trying to burn it down for the insurance money.

[beyondthefringe]

I'm really not happy with HBO Max. I'd been saving Theodesia for a rainy day, so to speak, and they just removed it after only a few months.

[zachbeacon]

Yeah, same with Infinity Train for me.

[mastermahan]

WB Discovery seems to be making some very shortsighted decisions. HBO Max is going to be fused with Discovery Plus and renamed, but whatever they call the replacement, viewers will remember this. Creatives will remember this. The mere pittance they're saving can't be worth the bad publicity.

[zachbeacon]

I saw they're offering 40% off if you subscribe for the year.

On the one hand, it tells me they're already desperate for new subscribers.

On the other hand, HBO Max likely won't be around in a year so this just feels like a scam.

[zachbeacon]

Yeah, that Jon Oliver joke feels less like a joke with each passing day.

He's even started going after Sesame Street.

[shadowkat]

I think it's safe to assume that most cats are secretly planning to kill their owners...

[tripodeca113]

Using stylistic CGI was a sensible choice, but part of me is sad they didn't go with Sabrina The Teenage Witch quality cat puppets.

[icon_uk]

With Tom Sturridge as the only human, still as himself, but in fake cat ears and a "Cats" stage show make-up job.

(I stress stage, not movie, for reasons too obvious to mention)

[bruinsfan]

That would appeal to my quirky sensibilities too, but is there anything that would be more effective at derailing the momentum the series has built up?

[zachbeacon]

I guess that explains why I saw so many reports saying the first season was going to be 11 episodes.

It also makes me feel better about this show's direction. I was worried they were only going to focus on the big arcs and mostly ignore the short stories.

(Though admittedly Dream of a Thousand Cats is one of those stories I think everyone wanted and Calliope becomes really important later. I sort of assumed we'd get the two Shakespeare issues combined into one episode later. I still have doubts that we'll see Prez or Emperor Norton.)

[beyondthefringe]

I hope that Gaiman's participation allows for an adaptation of as much of the series as possible... maybe as "bonus" episodes tacked on the end, or between, regular seasons, so we can get the standalones like Prez, Norton, or Element Girl, or even the whole Tavern at World's End arc which is magnificent but really not as essential to the story as other arcs.

I feel like some of those stand alone/random stories in which Dream barely factors, or has a minimized presence, are nevertheless quite fun and memorable.

[shadowkat]

I was surprised too - I honestly didn't think they'd do "A Dream of a Thousand Cats" - which means that S2 could be rather interesting.