Joseph Gordon-Levitt announces Neil Gaiman Sandman film

A Tweet from actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt has confirmed the existence of a Sandman film in the works, although details are otherwise thin on the ground.

If you're a reader of comics, chances are you've encountered (and loved) Neil Gaimain's Sandman — the epic story of the melancholic Lord of Dreams. Fans have long speculated over and dreamed of a film, with rumours surfacing from time to time, but it looks like this might be the real deal. Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt has confirmed via Twitter that there's something in the works.

As Deadline reported earlier today, writer and producer David Goyer — who co-wrote Christopher Nolan's Batman films — had pitched a Sandman film to Warner Bros, and it seems now that the deal is on. Further, that Gaiman himself is definitely attached in some way.

Whether Gordon-Levitt is signed on to direct or star as the brooding Morpheus himself (or both) is not clear, but we can definitely see him donning the dark mantle. It's not entirely clear what the hashtag "#Prelude" refers to, either, but at a guess, we could surmise it has something to do with Preludes and Nocturnes, the first volume of the 10 graphic novels that make up the entire run of Sandman.

We're not entirely sure Sandman is appropriate for a reboot in the gritty style of superhero films of recent years, but Gordon Levitt is a smart man, and Gaiman's involvement quells initial doubts somewhat. Set phasers to "cautiously optimistic".

Update: Gordon-Levitt posted a follow-up Tweet to clarify: he will be producing the film. Other roles in the production may or may not occur:

That leaves the casting a complete mystery at this point in time. Who would you like to see as the seven Endless?