The Sandman: Cast, plot and everything else you need to know about Neil Gaiman's Netflix show

If you're looking for some binge-worthy escapism to distract from August's shorter evenings, The Sandman might just do the trick. 

From Keep Breathing's ending to Virgin River Season 4, Netflix hasn't failed to impress us with its stellar lineup of summer entertainment. 

The US streaming service has been widely praised for treating its subscribers to quality content over the past few months, offering everything from the best Memorial Day movies to the best romantic movies of 2022. 

Its latest gem, The Sandman, looks to be yet another promising addition to its already abundant library of shows. Based on Neil Gaiman’s 1989 comic series of the same name, this Netflix original series is every fantasy lover's dream ‒ both literally and figuratively. Here's everything you need to know about The Sandman, including its release date, plot, cast, and the number of episodes. 

What is The Sandman on Netflix about? 

The Sandman on Netflix tells the story of Morpheus, the king of Dreams, as he embarks on a mission to restore order to his kingdom of the Dreaming after 106 years of captivity. Also known as Dream and Oneiros, the ageless character emerges from his imprisonment to find that the land has been destroyed in his absence. Determined to get back to business, he pledges to reconstruct it once he has tracked down all his lost belongings ‒ most of which have been hijacked by powerful creatures or misused by helpless mortals. Cue 10 episodes of treasure hunting, baby Gargoyles, and even a run-in with Lucifer. No, we're not kidding.  

If you're already intrigued, go ahead and start watching ‒ all episodes of The Sandman are now available to watch on Netflix. 

Who is in the cast of The Sandman? 

The Sandman on Netflix stars an impressive lineup of actors, most of whom hail from the UK. 

Tom Sturridge landed the part of Dream in February 2020 after an "extraordinarily long" audition process, which he recalls involving "a Zoom call with twelve different people" and "a deep, philosophical interrogation into my position on the character and the story and the ambition for the series." The 36-year-old Brit is no stranger to the performance world, boasting screen credits in movies like Being Julia, Like Minds, and The Boat That Rocked, as well as a number of theatre productions. 

Boyd Holbrook, who plays Dream's self-created nightmare Corinthian, also has plenty of acting experience in the bag. The American actor, 40, has previously starred in Hollywood blockbusters like Milk and Gone Girl and as DEA agent Steve Murphy in the popular Netflix series, Narcos. 

Gwendoline Christie is Lucifer Morningstar, the fallen angel who betrayed God and now serves as Ruler of Hell. The British actress brings sharp expertise in fantasy shows to The Sandman, having previously played Brienne of Tarth in Game of Thrones and the First Order Captain Phasma in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. 

Kirby Howell-Baptiste plays Death, Dream's kind older sister who's always on hand to lend her bro some advice. Despite having credits in a long list of TV and film productions, she is perhaps most known for her roles as Elena in the first season of Killing Eve and Taylor Harding in Why Women Kill. 

Charles Dance plays Roderick Burgess, the calculating occultist who tried to capture Death in 1916 but accidentally caught Dream instead. You may recognize the English actor from his role as Lord Louis Mountbatten in The Crown Season 4, for which he earned an Emmy nomination, or as Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones. He's also starred in The Imitation Game and Godzilla: King of the Monsters. 

Patton Oswalt voices Matthew the Raven, Dream's magical and loyal bird. The American comedian is likely to bring a humorous edge to The Sandman, having previously lent his vocal cords to Remy, the cooking rat in Ratatouille, and Quibble Pants in My Little Pony. He also has credits in Zoolander, 21 Jump Street, and The Circle. 

Sanjeev Bhaskar stars as Cain, the biblical character who murders his brother, Able (Asim Chaudhry). Best known for his roles in the comedy series Goodness Gracious Me and as the star of the sitcom The Kumars at No. 42, he has long been considered one of Britain's most talented comedians. 

Stephen Fry, a man who needs no introduction, also features in The Sandman. The English actor stars as Gilbert, a benevolent older man whose main purpose is to protect Rose Walker, a woman who's desperate to find her missing brother. 

How many episodes of The Sandman are there? 

There are ten episodes of The Sandman on Netflix, all of which are an hour in length.