Following rumors of his involvement with the project as an actor last month, Deadline is reporting Joseph Gordon-Levitt is negotiating with Warner Bros. not only to star in a big screen take on Neil Gaiman’s Sandman, but is planning to direct as well. David Goyer will provide the screenplay.

Sandman, which launched DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint, ran for 75 issues beginning in 1989. Gaiman’s worlds-within-worlds weaved an episodic anthology, focusing on the allegorical character of Dream and his brothers and sisters, known as the Endless (Death, Desire, Despair, Delirium, Destruction and Destiny).

Gordon-Levitt made his directorial debut earlier this year with Don Jon. The film, which he also wrote and headlines, also stars Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, Tony Danza and Brie Larson.

UPDATE: Gordon-Levitt has confirmed the news, posting the following to his Twitter account:

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m incredibly honored to be working with David Goyer, Warner Bros, and @neilhimself on SANDMAN. #Prelude”

The use of the “Prelude” hashtag is of some interest as it suggests that Goyer’s script might focus on the series’ first collection, “Preludes and Nocturnes,” which detail the earthly imprisonment of Dream, his escape and his reclamation of various objects of power.

(Photo credit: WENN.com)