With Benedict Cumberbatch not available to do 'The Sandman,' author Neil Gaiman wants Tom Hiddleston; Gaiman talks revised script coming before Christmas and Joseph Gordon-Levitt having good instincts

By Staff Writer

Dec 16 2014, 22:17 PM EST

"The Sandman" author Neil Gaiman considers Benedict Cumberbatch to be perfect for the role of Dream, but with Cumberbatch having commitments with "Doctor Strange," Gaiman looks to Tom Hiddleston as the next best thing.

With David S. Goyer of "Man of Steel" and Joseph Gordon-Levitt producing alongside Gaiman himself, things might progress smoother this time for "The Sandman" after being in development limbo for years, Radio Times reports. With the script in development, the author is being asked who he thinks will be fit to play the role of Dream or Morpheus.

According to Radio Times, Dream is characterized as "tall, dark, and with the sort of cheekbones that could skin a cow."

Gaiman mentions having considered Johnny Depp for the role once, but is currently thinking Cumberbatch would do well. "I think the first time I saw Benedict was as Sherlock Holmes, I thought, 'wow, that's incredibly Morpheus'. And fans probably thought the same because they immediately started doing fan-art, meshing the two of them up."

However, with Cumberbatch having "Doctor Strange," Radio Times thinks he might not be up for another superhero movie. In light of this, Gaiman mentions another possible actor for the role-Tom Hiddleston.

"Tom Hiddleston is still out there! And the truth is, as far as I'm concerned, anybody who sounds English with great cheekbones can probably pull it off," Gaiman says.

"The Sandman" movie has been in consideration by Warner Bros since the late 1990s. However, dreadful scripts, including one Gaiman describes as the worst he's ever read, did not result in the project pushing through until now. Franchise Herald details, "Numerous directors and screenwriters have taken on the feat of penning down a script but most if not all led to the dismay of author Neil Gaiman."

Radio Times says Gaiman is more involved with the script now, and Gaiman shares expecting a new version of the script being developed by Jack Thorne before Christmas after receiving a call from producers Gordon-Levitt and Goyer. Gaiman describes Gordon-Levitt as having good instincts.

According to Movie Web, the "Sandman" movie was announced a year ago and has had Gordon-Levitt initially attached to it as the producer, director, and actor.

Fashion & Style says that there is no release date for "The Sandman" yet.