Netflix’s The Sandman returns for its final season, diving into gods, grief, and destiny as it closes the book on Neil Gaiman’s legendary saga - with one last visit from Death.
Netflix has officially announced that The Sandman will conclude with its second season, set to premiere this summer.
While the existence of a second season was long known, the new announcement delivers key details: episode titles, a three-part rollout, and the surprise reveal of a special bonus episode.
The Sandman: Release Schedule and Story Arcs
Season 2 will roll out in three parts:
- Volume 1 (Episodes 1–6): July 3
- Volume 2 (Episodes 7–11): July 24
- Bonus Episode: July 31
Season 2 picks up where the first left off: Dream of the Endless (Tom Sturridge), having reasserted control over the Dreaming, is now forced to reckon with the consequences of centuries of pride, wrath, and abandonment. As Netflix’s official synopsis puts it:
“After a fateful reunion with his family, Dream must face one impossible decision after another as he attempts to save himself, his kingdom, and the waking world from the epic fallout of his past misdeeds… But the path to forgiveness is full of unexpected twists and turns, and true absolution may cost Dream everything.”
Season 2 will blend storylines from several of the original graphic novels, including fan favorites like Season of Mists and Brief Lives. It will conclude with a bonus episode titled Death: The High Cost of Living, based on Neil Gaiman’s 1993 spin-off miniseries. This episode shifts the spotlight to Dream’s sister, Death (Kirby Howell-Baptiste), as she guides a suicidal teenager through a single, life-changing day.
Here are the titles of all the episodes:
- Episode 1: Season of Mists
- Episode 2: The Ruler of Hell
- Episode 3: More Devils Than Vast Hell Can Hold
- Episode 4: Brief Lives
- Episode 5: The Song of Orpheus
- Episode 6: Family Blood
- Episode 7: Time and Night
- Episode 8: Fuel for the Fire
- Episode 9: The Kindly Ones
- Episode 10: Long Live the King
- Episode 11: A Tale of Graceful Ends
- Episode 12: Death: The High Cost of Living
The narrative will traverse various realms and time periods, including ancient Greece, revolutionary France, and the realm of Faerie.
Several new characters will appear this season, expanding the mythological universe of The Sandman. Among the confirmed additions are Destruction (Barry Sloane), Puck (Jack Gleeson), Destiny (Adrian Lester), Delirium (Esmé Creed-Miles), and Orpheus (Ruairi O'Connor), Dream's son with Calliope. The season will also feature appearances by figures from the Norse pantheon, such as Thor (Laurence O’Fuarain), Loki (Freddie Fox), and Odin (Clive Russell).
Bringing the Dream to a Close
Showrunner Allan Heinberg confirmed that the plan was always to condense Gaiman’s sprawling 10-volume narrative into two seasons. This comes amid growing speculation that the series might have been curtailed in light of recent sexual assault allegations made against Gaiman - accusations he has denied. Heinberg insists the structure of the show was locked in well before the controversy emerged.
Despite the cloud of off-screen drama, fans have expressed relief that the show will be completed as promised. Especially, since the first season was very well received for faithfully adapting the source materials spirit.