Black sand? Man adder?

Hello and welcome to more Eccentric Spheres!

Some fascinating entertainment news for you today. What's interesting is that both items are almost guaranteed. Sort of 98% confirmed. Something may yet go horribly wrong, but odds are in our favor.

First off, it looks like the return of a popular snarky British character is finally happening. Yes, it seems like Blackadder is back!

According to multiple sources, a fifth season is being written and Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie and Tony Robinson have all agreed to star. No word yet if Tim McInnerny will be back as Percy/Darling, but here's hoping.

The show is being produced by original show-runner Richard Curtis, and it will be set in the world of academia. Curtis stated that the original four seasons were about making fun of the establishment and old people, and that as they are all old and established now, this season will be Blackadder being annoyed at the young.

As far as I can tell, things can yet go wrong, so keep a level head, but things are looking very promising for the triumphant return of the Blackadder.

My second piece of news is of special importance to all fans of Neil Gaiman. Netflix is almost ready to put down a massive amount of money to create a Sandman TV series!

Sandman, Gaiman's immensely popular comic that ran from 1989 to 1996 has been in Hollywood's eye for decades, with talks and scripts being talked about and always abandoned. But this time it could really happen. As far as one can see, only the very last puzzle pieces remain to be placed before things can go ahead.

Gaiman is set to executive-produce together with David Goyer. If the final contracts are signed, the show will be written by Allan Heinberg (Wonder Woman, ABC's The Catch, Grey's Anatomy) but no one has yet mentioned any kind of episode count. Likewise, it is much too soon to talk cast. Time will tell.

For myself, I really hope Blackadder does come back. They are all fine actors, and I have enjoyed the specials so a last modern hurrah would be wonderful.

As for Sandman, I want to see it made, but it's not quite so cut and dry as that. Unlike Blackadder, Sandman is a complicated beast, and a thousand things could go wrong, but if they pull it off, it will be amazing, a highlight of television.

Well, time will tell and speaking of time, join me again next time, and until then, have a great week!