Dead Boy Detectives is a new fantasy series that is arriving on Netflix very soon, which is set in the same universe as The Sandman series.

Based on characters from Neil Gaiman, the show will follow Charles Rowland and Edwin Paine who die decades apart but become best friends after death.

After deciding not to enter the afterlife they stay on Earth and set up a detective agency solving supernatural cases, being joined in their endeavours by Crystal Palace and Niko.

Initially, Dead Boy Detectives was commissioned by HBO Max but was then acquired by Netflix with Neil Gaiman eventually confirming that the series would be set in the same universe as The Sandman.

The character of Death (played by Kirby Howell-Baptiste) who appeared in The Sandman will also feature in Dead Boy Detectives, confirming the connection.

Discussing the series with the Radio Times Jayden Revri (who plays Charles) said that his character's relationship with Edwin was a "complex" one.

He went on: "You've got to think, these two boys, they were both 16, they both died, it's pretty awful what happened to them, and then they find this perfect connection between each other of wanting to do good for people who went through the same things that they did.

"And then on that journey, they then meet Crystal [Kassius Nelson] and Niko [Yuyu Kitamura], who kind of bring out these different sides to the boys that they probably haven't shown each other for 30-plus years.

"They're basically like a married couple when the series starts, you see them in their element doing what they do best, which I think is great. You get to really see the foundations that they've built over that 30-year period. But once these things start coming to light, you kind of get to see that love between them."

Dead Boy Detectives full cast list

  • George Rexstrew as Edwin Payne
  • Jayden Revri as Charles Rowland
  • Kassius Nelson as Crystal Palace
  • Briana Cuoco as Jenny the Butcher
  • Ruth Connell as the Night Nurse
  • Yuyu Kitamura as Niko
  • Jenn Lyon as Esther
  • Lukas Gage as Thomas the Cat King
  • Michael Beach as Tragic Mick
  • Joshua Colley as Monty
  • Lindsey Gort as Maxine

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  • Caitlin Reilly as Lily
  • Max Jenkins as Kingham
  • David Iacono as David the Demon
  • Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death

When will Dead Boy Detectives release on Netflix?

All eight episodes of Dead Boy Detectives will drop on Netflix on Thursday, April 25.