Multiple projects across TV, theater, and film involving novelist Neil Gaiman have either been paused or canceled altogether. Netflix’s adaptation of The Sandman is the latest project to end, although a statement from the showrunner suggests that the decision to stop after two seasons had already been made back in 2022. Since July, 2024 Gaiman has been accused of sexual assault by a total of nine women, including Gaiman’s former nanny and fans as young as 18 when they first met. Four additional women came forward in a January 13 New York cover story with allegations involving nonconsensual BDSM.
Gaiman denies engaging in nonconsensual sexual activity “with anyone. Ever.” “Some of the horrible stories now being told simply never happened, while others have been so distorted from what actually took place that they bear no relationship to reality,” reads a January 14 statement, in part. “I am prepared to take responsibility for any missteps I made. I’m not willing to turn my back on the truth, and I can’t accept being described as someone I am not, and cannot and will not admit to doing things I didn’t do.”
Two accusers first came forward in a 2024 Tortoise podcast titled Master: The Allegations Against Neil Gaiman. Another woman made her accusations in a separate podcast, Am I Broken: Survivor Stories. Two more women came forward with their experiences in a follow-up episode of Master, claiming they had signed NDAs. According to Tortoise, Gaiman “strongly denies any allegations of non-consensual sex with the women and adds New Zealand police did not take up his offer of assistance over one woman’s complaint in 2022.” The police say they made a “number of attempts to speak to key people as part of this investigation, and those efforts remain ongoing.”
Below, the latest projects involving Gaiman or his works that have been paused in the wake of the allegations.
The Sandman
Netflix’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s comic book series will conclude after its upcoming second season — although according to a January 31 report from Variety, this was the plan even before filming started. Showrunner Allan Heinberg notably did not mention Gaiman or the allegations against him in a statement about the show’s upcoming conclusion. “The Sandman series has always been focused exclusively on Dream’s story, and back in 2022, when we looked at the remaining Dream material from the comics, we knew we only had enough story for one more season,” he said in part.
Coraline — A Musical
A new musical based on Gaiman’s book Coraline was set to play at the Leeds Playhouse in the U.K. beginning April 11 before touring England. “After careful consideration, we feel it would be impossible to continue in the context of the allegations against its original author,” the Leeds Playhouse and its producing partners said in a statement on January 29.
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics announced on January 25 they’ll no longer be working with Gaiman. They wrote in a statement, “Dark Horse takes seriously the allegations against Neil Gaiman and we are no longer publishing his works. Confirming that the Anansi Boys comic series and collected volume have been cancelled.”
Good Omens (season three)
The Prime Video series Good Omens, based on Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s novel, will now end with one 90-minute-long episode, according to an October 24 report from Deadline. The show was initially renewed for a third and final season in December 2023. Gaiman will not be a part of the production of the show but reportedly did contribute to the episode’s writing, and a new writer will likely fill in moving forward. Production begins in Scotland early 2025.
The Graveyard Book
Disney paused its film adaption of Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book, a September 4 IndieWire report claims. Marc Forster (Monster’s Ball) is attached to direct, though Disney has not commented on whether production will resume.
Dead Boy Detectives
The Netflix show Dead Boy Detectives was canceled on August 30, per Variety, though it has not been confirmed whether the cancelation was related to the allegations against Gaiman. Netflix is still set to air the upcoming second season of The Sandman, a drama based on Gaiman’s DC graphic-novel series.