The Sandman

Several characters from the comic were gender- and race-swapped for the adaptation.

• Death portrayed by a Black actress
• Lucifer reimagined and played by Gwendoline Christie
• Lucienne (originally Lucien the librarian) recast as a Black woman
• The Corinthian and various Endless reflect altered casting from the source

Strong female and non-binary characters feature prominently, but Morpheus remains the central protagonist and is not mocked.

• Death and Lucienne are competent, wise figures
• Rose Walker as a powerful dream vortex

Multiple central and supporting LGBTQ+ characters and relationships are prominent throughout.

• Hal is an openly gay drag performer
• The gay couple Hob and others; same-sex relationships shown
• Desire is canonically non-binary and a major character
• Various queer supporting characters at the cereal convention and elsewhere

Diverse casting is notable and sometimes shifts characters from their original depictions in the comics.

• Death recast as Black
• Lucienne as a Black woman
• Diverse ensemble across the dreaming and waking worlds

Generally lets its themes emerge through story, though some moments lean into messaging about identity and acceptance.

• Desire's gender identity treated matter-of-factly
• Themes of self-acceptance threaded through episodes

Little explicit anti-masculine or anti-West framing; the Corinthian and toxic men are villains but framed within plot.

• Serial killer convention depicts predatory men as monstrous

Largely faithful to Gaiman's comics in tone and plot, but with notable casting and character changes.

• Several characters gender/race-swapped from the comics
• Some streamlining of storylines while keeping core arcs intact