In Your Dreams looks like a sweet and epic adventure into a fantastical realm of infinite possibilities. Set to debut on Netflix later this year, In Your Dreams focuses on a brother and sister who discover the myth of the Sandman. Learning that finding him in the dreamworld could grant their own deepest wishes, the pair set off on a mission to repair their splintering family dynamic. It’s a bright and imaginative film, with the trailer showcasing plenty of adventure, comedy, and heart in one of 2025’s most anticipated animated movies.
The film looks to be another impressive addition to Netflix’s library of animated movies, building off their strong working relationship with filmmaker Alex Woo. During a preview event held by Netflix and attended by members of the press (including ScreenRant), In Your Dreams director Alex Woo and star Craig Robinson discussed the origins of the film, how the movie’s emotional core touches everyone, and why Robinson was perfect for the part of Tony Baloney.
In Your Dreams Goes Where Animation Has Feared To Tread
“I Think Every Animation Studio In The World Has Had A Dream Movie In Development At Some Point”
In Your Dreams is a dream-come-true project for director Alex Woo, who made his feature-length directorial debut with the film. The first film from Woo’s Kuku Studios following the success of the Netflix animated series Go! Go! Cory Carson, In Your Dreams is a big swing from the filmmaker that expands on a fascination he’s always had with dreams. “A dream movie, in the animated space, as sort of been a white whale,” Woo explained to the ᴀssembled press. “I think every animation studio in the world has had a dream movie in development at some point.“
“None of them have ever been made, because I think nobody could figure out how to give a dream movie stakes. When we started our company and we were dreaming up different movie ideas, we cracked it. We were like, ‘we’ve got to make this quickly, otherwise somebody else is going to figure it out before us. I think, personally, I grew up on movies that told me if I wished hard enough, if I wanted something badly enough, my dreams would come true.”
“As I grew up, I realized that sometimes, that’s true. Sometimes it’s not. I really wanted to make a movie that explores the question of what you do when your dreams actually don’t come true. How do you find hope? How do you keep moving forward in life? How do you find a way through? That was the big inspiration for me with this movie.” The film focuses on Stevie and Elliot, a sister and brother duo who find themselves exploring a fantastical dreamscape in search of the Sandman alongside Elliot’s stuffed animal friend, Baloney Tony.
This isn’t the first time a filmmaker has used the medium of animation to bring the concept of the Scandinavian Sandman to life. However, the filmmakers behind In Your Dreams added some interesting new lore to the concept. For Woo, it was important that In Your Dreams build on the established folklore and imagery, leading to the film’s central adventure. “The story of the Sandman is limited… it was the origin story of why we have dreams. So what we did was extend that.“
“What if we could find the Sandman in the dream world? You could make your dreams come true, and then suddenly, you can have something in the dream world affect the real world. That’s how we connected those two realities and gave the film stakes. It was a great plot device.” The use of “Mr. Sandman” as a music motif in the trailer and the film as a whole is also, according to Woo, a love letter to Back to the Future. “[Back to the Future] is one of my favorite movies in the world…that’s my homage to that film.“
Amid a slew of other releases that tend to lean into established IP and returning properties, it means a lot to Woo to see that a major streamer like Netflix is committed to producing new stories. “I really got to give it up to Netflix for making an original film. It’s such a bold statement, and it’s really showing leadership in the industry. A lot of the studios are doing IP plays, sequels, video game adaptations. Those things are great, but it’s nice to have an original story every now and then.“
Reflecting on the experience of shopping In Your Dreams around Hollywood, Woo revealed that “we got a couple of offers from different studios… I don’t think the fact that it was an original story was what made it difficult. I think it was the fact that it was a movie about dreams, that dealt with some challenging material, that is about what you do when your dreams don’t come true… credit to Netflix, I think they saw how powerful the story was going to be. They really believed in it, so they got behind it in a very big way.”
The Family Dynamics That Inspired In Your Dreams
“Making Movies Is Easier Than Dealing With Your Feelings”
At the heart of In Your Dreams is the family dynamic between Stevie and Elliot. The official synopsis of the film confirms that the pair are struggling with the end of their parents’ marriage, something that Woo alluded to during the Q&A. The father and mother will be played by Simu Liu and Cristin Milioti, with Woo teasing that Liu’s father will be an aspiring musician, which was the perfect way to attract Liu to the role.
I think a lot of this movie was trying to understand and appreciate my brother and his unique perspective on life.
Having already discussed the project with Liu in the lead-up to Liu’s MCU debut as Shang-Chi, Woo fully caught his attention by revealing that the character would sing. “Simu loves singing, he’s a very good singer,” Woo revealed with a laugh, praising both him and Militoti’s performances as the parents. Reflecting on the emotional connection he made with In Your Dream‘s central duo, Woo admitted that “I have a little brother, and Elliot is very much based on him. I’m very much Stevie.”
“We’ve had our epic battles throughout our childhood. I’m the perfectionistic, overbearing older sibling. He’s the carefree, fun, loving, charming little brother. I think a lot of this movie was trying to understand and appreciate him and his unique perspective on life. One of my good friends, who knows me a little too well, saw the movie and said ‘You know, this film is just really a circuitous way of you telling your brother that you love him.’ I don’t know, making movies is easier than dealing with your feelings.”
Why Craig Robinson Was Perfect For Tony Baloney
“The Script Touches Us All”
The x-factor in In Your Dreams is Stevie and Elliot’s guide to the dream world, Baloney Tony. A stuffed giraffe that Stevie hid behind the fridge prior to the events of the film, the toy becomes a crucial part of their adventure to find the Sandman. The character is instantly charming, with a fun design bolstered by Craig Robinson’s vocal performance. Craig Robinson is no stranger to animated projects, like his work on films like The Bad Guys. Robinson turned out to be exactly the kind of talent that Woo and his collaborators needed for the film.
“I’ve been a huge fan of Craig for years…” Woo explained. “I was so thrilled when he agreed to be in the movie. He just brought so much energy to the character.” Woo revealed that Robinson would improv with the filmmakers during recording sessions, bringing his own sense of personality and comedy to the character, something that Robinson loved about working on the film. “It was such a collaboration of jokes and improvising in the moment.“
“Tony was just so funny and silly, and I could see me as this stuffed animal for some reason.”
Looking back to what convinced him to join In Your Dreams, Robinson noted that it was the story and the script that really caught his attention. “This script touches all of us. Everybody dreams. If you don’t, you daydream. We all dream about dreaming.” Robinson also saw the emotional appeal of the story that Woo and his team were trying to tell, noting that the film is “a love letter to our brothers and sisters. I have a younger brother and an older sister. That was all real, we’re relentless in teasing with all love and fun.”
Robinson noted that the balance between the comedic performance and the family element was what defined his approach to Tony as a character. “Tony was just so funny and silly, and I could see me as this stuffed animal for some reason… a lot of it was happening in the moment. We were finding out who he is and how to put him together.” The result is an instantly charming character, who brings a bit of bombastic personality to In Your Dreams that should help the film stand out.
