Why Wanda’s debut in The Sandman season 2 matters more than ever

85th Annual Peabody Awards - Source: Getty
85th Annual Peabody Awards (Image via Getty)

In a world where representation still feels like a battleground, The Sandman season 2 is about to make a radical move. It’s bringing Wanda Mann—one of the most iconic, unapologetically trans characters in comic book history—to the screen. And in 2025, that means something. Actually, it means everything.

Because The Sandman season 2 isn’t just reviving a fan-favorite arc. It’s stepping into the cultural fire with its head held high, saying: this is what storytelling can look like when you center truth, not trends.


The long-awaited arrival of Wanda Mann

If you know The Sandman, you know that Wanda’s story was never small. First introduced in the 1993 arc A Game of You, Wanda wasn’t a metaphor, a subplot, or comic relief. She was a best friend. A bodyguard. A working-class trans woman with a dry wit, a steady hand, and a big heart.

And now, finally, in The Sandman season 2, she’s stepping out of the panels and onto the screen, played by none other than Indya Moore.

This isn’t just a casting. It’s a full-circle moment. Because when Neil Gaiman created Wanda, he did it out of love for his trans friends, for the people who never saw themselves in comics. And now, The Sandman season 2 is carrying that love forward, refusing to soften it for palatability or edit it for comfort.


Why Wanda matters in 2025

It’s not 1993 anymore. The world has changed. Trans visibility has grown, but so has the backlash. And that’s exactly why The Sandman season 2’s commitment to Wanda is more urgent than ever. This show isn’t operating in a vacuum—it’s stepping into a moment where trans stories are constantly under scrutiny. And instead of shying away, it’s doubling down.

Wanda’s presence on screen isn’t just a checkbox. It’s resistance. It’s honesty. It’s the reminder that trans people aren’t new—they’ve always been here, always part of the story. The Sandman season 2 isn’t here to tokenize. It’s here to tell the truth.


Indya Moore as Wanda in The Sandman season 2

Let’s talk about the casting. Indya Moore—best known for their role in Pose—isn’t just a talented actor. They’re a cultural force. Their portrayal of Angel Evangelista was a watershed moment for trans visibility in mainstream media. Now, they’re bringing that same depth and dignity to The Sandman season 2 and Wanda Mann.

This isn’t just smart casting. It’s intentional casting. It’s a statement that The Sandman season 2 isn’t interested in safe choices—it’s interested in real ones. Moore has already shown they know how to bring tenderness, strength, humor, and fury to a role. That’s exactly what Wanda deserves. That’s what this story needs.


“A Game of You”: Wanda at the heart of the story

Wanda’s story doesn’t orbit someone else’s drama. In The Sandman season 2, she is the drama—the emotional center of A Game of You. She’s Barbie’s best friend. The one who shows up when it counts. The one who risks her life to protect someone else’s dream. And the one who pays the price for simply existing in a world that refuses to see her as real.

But here’s the thing: The Sandman doesn’t victimize her. It honors her. In the comics, her death wasn’t a lesson—it was a loss. And her life wasn’t tragic—it was powerful. Gaiman has promised to bring that same energy to The Sandman season 2, with updates that modernize her arc and bring in trans creatives to tell it right. That’s not just refreshing. That’s revolutionary.


Not a token, not a trend—A real hero

What sets Wanda apart is that she’s not “the trans character.” She’s just Wanda. Loud, loyal, grounded. She drives a truck. She cracks jokes. She comforts Barbie during breakdowns and stands firm against supernatural storms. Her gender identity is part of who she is, but never the total of it.

And that’s the kind of representation season 2 is reaching for: layered, lived-in, and unapologetically human.

This season has the chance to be a landmark moment—not because it’s the first to depict a trans woman on screen, but because it’s doing so with care, craft, and context. Wanda is not here to educate. She’s here to exist. Fully. Fiercely. Finally.


A pop culture milestone, not a footnote

At a time when mainstream media is full of reboots and nostalgia plays, The Sandman season 2 is doing something rare: moving forward. It’s not just adapting a cult classic—it’s interrogating it, updating it, and making sure the future has a seat at the table.

Wanda Mann is part of that future. Not as a symbol, but as a person. As a friend. As a hero.

And if Season 2 gets this right—and all signs point to yes—it won’t just be good television. It’ll be a cultural touchstone. One that says: trans stories aren’t niche. They’re necessary.


Wanda’s arrival in The Sandman season 2 matters because it shows what’s possible when storytelling meets sincerity. When adaptation meets accountability. When a beloved character isn’t trimmed down or softened up, but allowed to step into her full power.

This isn’t just about The Sandman. It’s about every viewer who’s ever waited to see themselves treated with dignity. Every fan who fell in love with Wanda on the page. Every trans kid who’ll see her on screen and feel a little more real.

Because in 2025, visibility isn’t enough. We need truth. We need tenderness. We need Wanda Mann.

And The Sandman season 2 is finally ready to deliver.

Edited by Anshika Jain