The Sandmanis one of the best-received comic book adaptations of modern memory, and after a long period of uncertainty, the second season has been announced. Fans have a lot to look forward to, and one of the most interesting elements will be the first on-screen appearances of some beloved characters.
For the first couple ofvolumes ofThe Sandman, one of the seven members of The Endless is missing in action. Destruction, the immortal incarnation of change, has abdicated his duties and abandoned his family. Though he might not even make an appearance in the upcoming second season, Destruction is one of the most interesting characters in the source material.
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David Harbour
Let’s get the obvious one out of the way. When Hollywood needs a big tough bearded guy, they call the man behind the belovedchief of police in Hawkins, Indiana. Harbour’s role onStranger Thingshas quickly become one of the most iconic performances on TV, but his career doesn’t end there. He took the title role in the ill-fated 2019 remake ofHellboy, in which his performance was the only saving grace. His better-received entry into the superhero world came inBlack Widow, in which he portrayed the Soviet answer to Captain America, Red Guardian. He’ll be reprising that role in next year’sThunderbolts. The actor has found a niche as a paternal action hero, which his upcoming performance asJohn Wick Santa will cement. Destruction could give Harbour a chance to play a version of that character who is tired of his lot in life.
Ray Stevenson
A good character actor can make or break a cinematic experience, and Ray Stevenson is a very good character actor. He’s been in the industry for decades, playing one amoral tough guy after another. From henchmen to heroes, there’s no action movie mainstay he hasn’t put his gravelly Irish spin on. One of the most notable parts of his earlier career came in his role as Titus Pullo in theearly HBO prestige dramaRome. Asking the man who made that amoral centurion iconic to portray an older and more introspective version of the character would be an excellent shortcut to an interesting Destruction. Stevenson has a distinct voice, a stellar screen presence, and the kind of long history in unique parts to establish himself as a fantastic Destruction.
Matt Berry
Like most characters inThe Sandman, Destruction was loosely based on a real person. In his case,Neil Gaiman has belovedEnglish actor Brian Blessed in mind. Gaiman has repeatedly stated that he’d love to see Blessed in the role of Destruction if the work ever made it to the big screen. Unfortunately, Blessed is currently 86 years old, and he does very little on-screen acting today. If Netflix can get Brian Blessed, they absolutely should, but, if they can’t, Matt Berry is a stellar modern-day answer. Berry is best known for his work in comedy, in which he often portrays ego-driven fools, consumed by their hubris. He has some dramatic roles and much more talent than some give him credit for. Berry’s passion project,The Toast of Londonfeatured Blessed as his character’s father, and that feels like a pretty accurate view of their connection as performers. There’s a comedic element to Destruction that Berry could capture perfectly, and he’d be much better in the more serious moments than some would assume.
Kristofer Hivju
Many bring up this Norwegian actor as a great option for Destruction because he looks quite a bit like the character. He absolutely does, he’s five minutes in costuming away from perfectly looking the part, but he also has the gravitas and physicality to pull off the role. Hivju is best known for his role as Tormund GiantsbaneonGame of Thrones, one of the most powerful and intimidating generals among the wildlings. He was celebrated for his performance across the five seasons in which he appeared. He also appeared as Nivellen inThe Witcherand Connor Rhodes inThe Fate of the Furious. He’s a powerful performer, already well-known for roles very similar to that of Destruction. From every angle, Hivju is an obvious no-brainer choice for the role, and he’d probably bring it to life with style.
David Harewood
Though Netflix’s take on the material is the first on-screen adaptation ofThe Sandman, there has been one portrayal of Destruction thus far. Thanks to the stellar casting of Dirk Maggs' audio drama adaptation of the graphic novel series, the world has heard David Harewood’s take on Destruction. The third collection of that audio experience has only recently premiered, but Harewood’s performance in the role is excellent. Though the Netflix series has never brought in one of those performers to reprise their role, Harewood’s performances asCyborg Superman and Martian Manhunterdemonstrate his capacity. Harewood has the voice, but he also has the talent to become both versions of Destruction.
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