The Sandman

Several established comic characters are race- or gender-swapped for the adaptation, a noted talking point.

• Death portrayed by a Black actress
• Lucifer reimagined as a woman (Gwendoline Christie)
• The Corinthian and other characters cast across races
• Rose Walker and Lucienne (originally Lucien) gender/race adjusted

Strong female and antagonist characters exist but the male lead Morpheus remains central and competent; no anti-male messaging.

• Lucifer as a powerful female adversary
• Death as a capable, wise figure
• Johanna Constantine reworked as a competent woman

Multiple prominent LGBTQ+ characters and relationships are woven throughout, consistent with the source but foregrounded.

• Hal, an openly gay drag performer
• The gay couple in '24/7' diner storyline
• Judy and her relationships
• Various queer supporting characters

Diverse casting is prominent across the ensemble; in a fantasy/mythic setting it's largely plausible but several choices were clearly deliberate inclusivity decisions.

• Death cast as Black
• Lucienne race-swapped
• Rose Walker and family diverse casting

Themes of acceptance and identity are present but generally folded into the story rather than delivered as sermons.

• Themes of hope and humanity in '24/7'
• Identity and belonging arcs for Rose and Gault

No sustained framing of masculinity or the West as villainous; Morpheus's flaws are personal rather than ideological.

• Morpheus criticized for pride, not for being male

Largely faithful to Gaiman's comics but with identity-driven recasting of established characters that some fans flagged.

• Gender-swapped Lucifer and Constantine
• Race-swapped Death and Lucienne
• Gault changed from male to female-presenting shapeshifter