Joseph Gordon Levitt has revealed that he has exited the film adaptation of the cult comic book Sandman due to "creative differences".
Gordon-Levitt was set to star in and direct the film based on the classic comic by Neil Gaiman which ran from 1988 to 1996.
The actor took to Facebook to announce the news, saying that he did not see "eye to eye" with New Line Cinema, a subsidiary of Warner Bros, writing: “a few months ago, I came to realize that the folks at New Line and I just don’t see eye to eye on what makes Sandman special, and what a film adaptation could/should be. So unfortunately, I decided to remove myself from the project.”
However, he added: “I wish nothing but the best for the team moving forward.”
It is not known what specific reason caused him to depart the project, but the announcement came a day after it was revealed that Eric Heisserer (Final Destination 5, The Conjuring 2) had come on board as screenwriter.
He replaced Jack Thorne who was Gordon-Levitt's choice for the job.
Sandman creator Gaiman took to Twitter to say that he would "love to work" with Gordon-Levitt again, saying he's "smart, honest and really nice".
I very much hope so. I would love to work with @hitRECordJoe some more. He's smart, honest & really nice. https://t.co/lbFrNLAycJ
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) March 6, 2016
.@neilhimself Deepest thanks, kind sir. I sincerely hope we find another way to collaborate sooner than later..
— Joseph Gordon-Levitt (@hitRECordJoe) March 5, 2016
Read Gordon-Levitt's full statement below:
"So, as you might know if you like to follow these sorts of things, a while back, David Goyer and I made a producing deal with Warner Brothers to develop a movie adaptation of Neil Gaiman's SANDMAN. Neil himself came on as an executive producer, we hired the excellent screenwriter, Jack Thorne, and we started in on the ambitious task of adapting one of the most beloved and boundary-pushing titles in the world of comics. I was pleased with the progress we were making, even though we still had quite a ways to go.
"Recently, as you also might know if you like to follow these sorts of things, the sorta "ownership" (for lack of a better term) of the Sandman material changed hands when Warner Brothers shifted the entire catalogue of Vertigo comics (an imprint of DC) to their subsidiary, New Line. And a few months ago, I came to realize that the folks at New Line and I just don't see eye to eye on what makes Sandman special, and what a film adaptation could/should be. So unfortunately, I decided to remove myself from the project. I wish nothing but the best for the team moving forward.
"I'd like to thank all the great people I've had the opportunity to work with on this one. I've had a blast with and learned a ton from David and Jack. Niija Kuykendall, Greg Silverman, and everyone at Warner Brothers have been fantastic, as have Geoff Johns and everyone at DC. And it's been a particular privilege as well as a rocking good time getting to know Mr. Gaiman, whose generous insights and masterful work have certainly convinced me that the Lord of Dreams and the Prince of Stories are one and the same Endless pattern."
