Sandman Movie Writer Quits, Says it Won't Work As a Film

The movie adaptation of the classic comic series Sandman has hit another set-back. The film has been in development for some time, and now its writer has left the project.

Eric Heisserer wrote the recently-released sci-fi drama Arrival and joined Sandman in the spring. But as IO9 reports, Heisserer has now quit, and has said that he doesn't believe the property will ultimately work as a movie.

"I had many conversations with Neil [Gaiman, Sandman's creator] on this, and I did a lot of work on the feature," he told the site. "I came to the conclusion that the best version of this property exists as an HBO series or limited series, not as a feature film, not even as a trilogy.

"The structure of the feature film really doesn't mesh with this. So I went back and said here's the work that I've done. This isn't where it should be. It needs to go to TV. So I talked myself out of a job!"

Heisserer's departure is just the latest change of personnel on the film. It looked as if it was a step closer to happening when Dark Knight Rises star Joseph Gordon-Levitt came on board as a producer and potential star last year. However, in March the actor confirmed that he was exiting, citing a difference in approach with the studio.

"I came to realize that the folks at New Line and I just don’t see eye to eye on what makes Sandman special, and what a film adaptation could/should be," Gordon-Levitt said at the time. "So unfortunately, I decided to remove myself from the project. I wish nothing but the best for the team moving forward."

Sandman is one of the titles published by DC's Vertigo imprint. Last year parent company Warner made the decision to move the film development of Vertigo properties over to its subsidiary New Line Cinema.

At the time, co-producer David Goyer spoke to Collider about the decision to move the Vertigo titles to New Line. "I think that the Vertigo properties are a bit more quirky and off-center than kind of the mainstream superhero stuff at Warners," he said. "But I understand the decision because we're not having to fight for release dates with the Vertigo stuff like we would have been having to do over at Warner Bros."

The original run of Sandman lasted for 75 issues, plus one special, between 1989 and 1996. Gaiman has returned to the title a number of times since, including a novella and a six-part prequel series. The comic has won over 26 prestigious Eisner Awards, and by the end of its run was DC's most popular title, outselling the likes Batman and Superman.