Neil Gaiman is eyeing either Tom Hiddleston or Benedict Cumberbatch to play lead character Morpheus in the film adaptation of Sandman, which was first published in 1989.
Gaiman revealed his actor preferences during an interview with Radio Times. Sandman is currently under wraps with Warner Bros., with Hiddleston highlighted as his choice pick.
The author did let on that he thought Johnny Depp would have been a good fit for the role, but that he's too old now. However, when he saw Cumberbatch playing Sherlock recently, he was struck by how perfect the actor would have been playing Morpheus on the big-screen.
"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," said Gaiman.
However, Cumberbatch has just signed on to play Doctor Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which might keep him from playing Morpheus.
Gaiman then said that Hiddleston, who played Loki in Thor, would also make a great Morpheus.
"Then again, 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."