Who’s in The Sandman cast? It only took 30 years, several different iterations, and the involvement of Neil Gaiman himself, but The Sandman has finally been adapted to the screen.
The Sandman Netflix series is a stunning recreation of the beloved comics (read our Sandman review here), bringing to life not only the incredible environments but the roster of ethereal characters as well. Some want to help, and some absolutely do not. So ahead of The Sandman season 2 release date, we thought we’d prepare a guide to The Sandman cast covering all the main players. And no, you aren’t sleeping. This is very much real.
Here’s the main The Sandman cast and characters list:
- Tom Sturridge as Morpheus
- Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne
- Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer
- Boyd Holbrook as The Corinthian
- Patton Oswalt as Matthew the Raven
- David Thewlis as John Dee
- Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death
- Mason Alexander Park as Desire
- Mark Hamill as Mervyn Pumpkinhead
- Jenna Coleman as Johanna Constantine
- Charles Dance as Sir Roderick Burgess
- Ferdinand Kingsley as Hob Gadling
- Vanesu Samunyai as Rose Walker
Tom Sturridge as Morpheus/Dream
The lord of sleep himself, Tom Sturridge, plays Morpheus, otherwise known as Dream of The Endless. Neil Gaiman has commented that as soon as Sturridge auditioned for the fantasy series, it became clear who should get the part.
You’ve likely seen Sturridge around, as he has a long list of credits on TV, film, and stage. Some of his bigger parts include the Netflix movie Velvet Buzzsaw and Mary Shelley, but The Sandman is comfortably where he’s gotten the most time to shine.
Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne
Vivienne Acheampong is Lucienne, the librarian and Dream’s trusted confidante. She was a standout during the first season, but we are still expecting to see big things when it comes to both her Sandman future and overall career.
Previously, she had a small role in the Disney movie The Witches and a selection of parts here and there around Britain’s comedy scene — We The Jury and Famalam — before stepping into The Sandman’s surreal dreamscape.
The Sandman was her breakout turn, though. So keep your eyes on her upcoming work.
Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer
Gwendoline Christie playing Lucifer is such perfect casting. It’s a wonder it didn’t happen sooner. Of course, before, she was in Westeros, portraying the Game of Thrones character Brienne of Tarth.
She has also been in the Star Wars movies and since showed up in one of Netflix’s best horror series, Wednesday. If we’re lucky, we’ll see her plenty more in the future as well.
Boyd Holbrook as Corinthian
The one-time movie villain to Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine is now an eyeless serial killer, as Boyd Holbrook becomes a literal nightmare stalking the world of the living.
The Corinthian is a nasty piece of work, but that’s what makes him a great character, and Holbrook brings just the right amount of charm that you want to see what he gets up to. Holbrook recently played a bad guy in Indiana Jones 5 (read our Indiana Jones 5 review for more on that!), so it seems he knows how to turn up the nastiness. Honestly, he might be our favorite from season 1.
Patton Oswalt as Matthew the Raven
Dream’s new Raven, Matthew, serves as an emissary or herald for the king of nightmares, and he’s one of the few characters who are not afraid to give Morpheus a piece of his mind. In Gaiman’s comics, Matthew goes on to play a major role in Dream’s ultimate fate, so expect to see a lot more of this little feathered fellow.
Matthew’s played by the legendary Patton Oswald, who’s appeared in basically every comedy series of the last two decades, from Seinfeld to Parks and Recreation. Oswalt’s probably best known, though, for voicing Remy in the mouthwatering Pixar movie Ratatouille. Fans can also look forward to seeing the star in the upcoming film Ghostbusters 4.
David Thewlis as John Dee
Poor John Dee is the son of Ethel Cripps and Roderick Burgess, who’s driven mad by the power of the Dreamstone and uses it to torment the patrons of a nearby diner. Unfortunately, while John has delusions of godhood, he proves no match for Morpheus and is imprisoned mid-way through The Sandman’s first season.
If Dee looks familiar to you, that’s because he’s played by the unforgettable David Thewlis. Thewlis is an action icon who’s appeared in more films and TV series than we could possibly list here, but you’ll probably know him best as Professor Lupin from the Harry Potter cast. You can see him next in Avatar 3 (Yes, really).
Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death
Easily Gaiman’s most popular creation (perhaps even more popular than Dream himself), Death is the personification of death and Dream’s elder sister. Despite her rather grim reputation, Death’s not a scythe-wielding maniac. She’s a pleasant and friendly goth girl who helps the recently deceased move into the afterlife.
The wonderful Kirby Howell-Baptiste plays Death, and you may recognize her from the Disney movie Cruella. Beyond that, Howell-Baptiste has had a long and storied career appearing in popular drama series like Killing Eve, Hacks, and Barry. For more on the character, check out who is Death.
Mason Alexander Park as Desire
We’ve only seen Mason Alexander Park’s Desire a couple of times, but their presence makes The Sandman season 2 all the more exciting.
Before being a sibling of Dream, they were on Broadway and in the live-action adaptation of the anime series Cowboy Bebop and have since scored a role in Quantum Leap. Neither is as cool as what they get up to here.
Mark Hamill as Mervyn Pumpkinhead
Mark Hamill needs no introduction, playing one of the most famous Star Wars characters, Luke Skywalker.
An accomplished voice actor who defined a Batman villain as one of the best Joker actors for multiple generations, he lends those talents here as Mervyn Pumpkinhead, the janitor of the Dreaming’s library. Need we say more?
Jenna Coleman as Johanna Constantine
The former Doctor Who companion portrays a gender-bent John Constantine, known as Johanna Constantine. She plays two different versions of the DC character because The Sandman loves to be confusing.
You can expect her to dip in and out of the series as it continues. Johanna rocks, and we definitely want to see more of her. In the meantime, Coleman is sticking to TV and has two new shows (The War Room and The Jetty) for us to look forward to.
Charles Dance as Sir Roderick Burgess
As Sir Roderick Burgess, Game of Thrones icon Charles Dance does not have the biggest role to play in the series, but he does have a memorable one. As the leader of a cult that is attempting to summon Death, Dance kicks things off in The Sandman by accidentally imprisoning Dream.
Dance makes his screen time count, as always. You’ll know him and his amazing voice from previous work as Lord Tywin Lannister, Lord Mountbatten on The Crown, and, more recently, opposite Kiefer Sutherland in the Paramount Plus show Rabbit Hole.
Ferdinand Kingsley as Hob Gadling
Hob Gadling is Dream’s best friend (Or certainly the mortal he’s friendliest with) and confidante. Hob was granted immortality after Death and Dream overheard him talking about wanting to live forever, and he’s spent the last five hundred years or so getting into trouble and occasionally meeting the Lord of Dreams for a pint.
Ferdinand Kingsley plays the quincentenarian, and you may recognize him from the vampire movie Dracula Untold and more prestigious pictures like the Oscar-nominated Mank. To be honest, though, he’s probably best known for playing George Wilkins in the Apple TV Show Silo.
Vanesu Samunyai as Rose Walker
We first meet Rose Walker in The Sandman during its first season as a woman searching for her brother. However, soon, she discovers more than she bargained for as a connection with Dream pops up, one that she can’t escape.
Vanesu Samunyai plays the role of Rose in the series, which is her first major role. Prior to the Netflix gig, the star appeared in an eBay commercial before blowing everyone away with her portrayal as Rose. Talk about a powerful breakout role, right? We are excited to see Samunyai return to our small screens soon now that the Netflix show has shone a spotlight on her talent.
That’s The Sandman cast, for now, anyway. For more, read our interview with The Sandman creator Neil Gaiman, and have a look at our guides to The Boys cast and the House of the Dragon cast for more actors in your favorite shows and films.
Or, take a look at our guide to the best TV series of all time and our list of everything new on Netflix this month. And finally, get your comic book fix with our guides on all the upcoming DC movies and how to watch the DC movies in order.