The Sandman: Why Did An Adaptation Take So Long?

gamerant.com:

Those who don't pay too much attention to comic book source material might think that almost every good graphic novel has hit the screen by now. However, some will be shocked to find that some of the strongest examples of the medium take ages to coalesce into the perfect on-screen adaptation.

The Sandman is one of the most hotly anticipated comic book adaptations of the modern age, bringing a beloved author's magnum opus to a thrilled fanbase and a new audience. Despite appearances, however, the upcoming Netflix series is far from the first attempt to bring Neil Gaiman's comic franchise off the page.

MirrorMask: Neil Gaiman's Incredible, Bizarre, Flawed Hidden Gem

The first issue of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman hit store shelves via DC Comics in January 1989. That run, by far the most iconic of its collections, ran monthly (with some exceptions) for 75 issues until its conclusion in March 1996. The series reemerged in 1999, then again in 2013, but the elements that fans know and love were among the best-remembered comic book moments of the 90s. That means that many of the most popular moments of the franchise have been exclusive to those who read the comics, with the exception of the excellent audio performance, for thirty years. That period has seen superhero movies become popular, then fall from public favor, then become the most culturally dominant force in media. Throughout that time, attempt after attempt rose and fell, weaving a bizarre tale of creative failure.

In 1996, shortly after the final issue of The Sandman's original run was released to the public, serious work began on a film adaptation. Then as now, Warner Bros. holds the film rights to all of DC Comics, so they were in charge. The primary creative voices