The Sandman season 2 bonus episode release date and all we know

The second season of The Sandman has just released its first set of episodes, with the remaining five due to premiere on July 24.

Netflix announced in June this year that a bonus twelfth episode, titled Death: The High Cost of Living, will also be aired.

This special episode will centre around the character Death, portrayed by Kirby Howell-Baptiste. Showrunner Allan Heinberg had intended for the second season to be the final one even before filming commenced in the summer of 2023.

However, the show's conclusion was not confirmed until January 2025, which coincided with allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against series executive producer Neil Gaiman, accusations he refutes.

Here's everything we know about the bonus episode, including its air date.

Death: The High Cost of Living is set to air on Netflix on July 31, with US fans able to stream it from midnight.

UK viewers, however, will have to wait until 8am on the day of release.

The bonus episode is the only one where Gaiman is credited for the teleplay, although he is listed as an executive producer for the second season.

David S. Goyer, the show's developer, told Variety that Gaiman "wasn't as involved in season two as he was in season one".

Death: The High Cost of Living is based on Gaiman's 1993 three-issue comic book limited series.

The storyline involves Death assuming human form once every century, in order to stay connected and empathetic towards humanity.

For a number of years, there were plans to create a film adaptation of 'Death: The High Cost of Living', but unfortunately, it never materialised.

The narrative of the original tale revolves around a teenage girl named Didi, who is convinced she embodies Death itself. She embarks on a voyage of self-discovery with a young man named Sexton.

Sexton, who had been contemplating taking his own life, discovers a newfound zest for life after developing feelings for Didi.

The Sandman season 2 bonus episode airs on Netflix on July 31