Is Neil Gaiman's "Sandman" headed for TV?

Sandman, Neil Gaiman's groundbreaking and awe-inspiring comic book series about the all-powerful personification of dreams and stories, may actually become a TV show in the near future. While there's always been a lot of interest and chatter about adapting the comics for either a movie or a series, no idea has ever gotten too far. Which is probably for the best, because Sandman is too intricate for a movie and TV as a medium wasn't good enough, frankly, to do it justice before the last few years. (Not to say there weren't good shows, but these stories are seriously weird and I don't think anyone would have taken the chances necessary to really make a good adaptation.)

But apparently that could all change. According to Heat Vision:

Warner Bros. TV is in the midst of acquiring television rights from sister company DC Entertainment and in talks with several writer-producers about adapting the 1990s comic. At the top of the list is Eric Kripke, creator of the CW’s horror-tinged “Supernatural.”

I have to say, I'm conflicted. I would like nothing more than to see these graphic novels made into a really good TV show. (A show which would have to be on HBO, or something, because no way would it work on one of the networks.) And while I have a secret (until now, I guess) love for Supernatural, there are certain things I do not expect from it. Like nuance, or subtlety. Mostly I watch it for the pretty, pretty faces of its leading men.

Could Kripke do it well? It's possible; he clearly knows his horror and fantasy, which is probably a required skill set for this job. But what's more distressing to me is that as of right now, Gaiman himself is not involved in the project. And that is just a recipe for disaster — his input, even a slight amount, would almost definitely increase the adaptations chances for success.

Readers, do you think this adaptation sounds good, or should Sandman just be left alone? And who would you rather see helm the project? I know he's a kind of default choice for all things weird, but Guillermo del Toro really would be perfect for this. I can dream.

Via io9.