‘Lifeless Boy Detectives’ Trailer: The Supernatural Detective-Comedy Collection Is Set in ‘The Sandman’ Universe

Netflix has dropped the first full trailer for Dead Boy Detectives, a supernatural detective-comedy series set in the same universe as The Sandman. Based on DC characters created by Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner, Dead Boy Detectives stars George Rextrew and Jayden Revri as Edwin Payne and Charles Rowland, respectively.

The official description of Dead Boy Detectives reads: “Two teen ghosts work alongside a clairvoyant to solve mysteries for their supernatural clientele — until a powerful witch complicates their plans.”

According to Tudum by Netflix, “In Season of Mists, the fourth book of The Sandman comics series, Neil Gaiman penned a ghost story set in a British boarding school to demonstrate the problems being caused by Lucifer’s plan to get back at Dream. Gaiman liked the characters enough that he brought them back for a Vertigo Comics crossover event, and they wound up receiving their own spin-off comic from Toby Litt and Mark Buckingham.”

Now the Dead Boy Detectives are getting their own eight-episode series on Netflix.

Neil Gaiman Sees Himself in the ‘Dead Boy Detectives’ Character Charles Rowland

Neil Gaiman is one of the executive producers of Dead Boy Detectives. “Charles was more or less me as a boy,” said Gaiman to Tudum. “I loved writing him and Edwin, and was proud to send them out into the world. Who amongst us can honestly say that if we were hanging around the Earth as a ghost we wouldn’t want to start a detective agency? I think what fans responded to the most was their good-heartedness and dedication.”

Steve Yockey and Beth Schwartz serve as showrunners of Dead Boy Detectives. “If The Sandman is this really lush, rich supernatural drama, then Dead Boy Detectives is the Hardy Boys on acid,” said Yockey. “Hopefully just as addictive, but through a severely cracked lens.” Schwartz added, “The bittersweet nature of Edwin and Charles having only become friends because of their tragic deaths is what makes their friendship such a unique story to explore.”

Gaiman teased that the Edwin and Charles will encounter a member of the Endless, but who? “[Į Dead Boy Detectives,] they will encounter a member of the Endless,” said Gaiman. “But which one? Ah… you’ll need to watch it to find out.”

Dead Boy Detectives starring George Rextrew and Jayden Revri premieres April 25 on Netflix. Watch the first full trailer below set to My Chemical Romance’s “Welcome to the Black Parade.”