Shazam Director Returns for Until Dawn After IP Movie Backlash

You might think that David F. Sandberg, the director behind Shazam! and Shazam: Fury of the Gods, would steer clear of IP-based films after the intense backlash he faced. However, Sandberg is back with a new project, Until Dawn, set to hit theaters soon. Reflecting on the "very, very crazy" reactions to his DC Cinematic Universe films, Sandberg shared what drew him back into the world of adapting existing IPs.

"What I loved about the script [is] that it wasn't trying to recreate the game," Sandberg explained to GamesRadar+ about the beloved horror game turned film. "Trying to condense 10 hours into two, or something like that. But it is scary still, even though we're doing a new thing." He acknowledged the high expectations and particular preferences of IP fans, noting how challenging it can be to meet their standards. "I mean, to be honest, fans can get very, very crazy and very angry with you. You can get, like, death threats and everything so after Shazam 2, I was like, 'I never wanna do another IP-based movie because it's just not worth it,'" he added, reflecting on his DCU experience.

Yet, the script for Until Dawn intrigued him. "But then I was sent this script, and I was like, 'Ah, this would be so much fun to do, to do all these kinds of horrors? I kind of have to do it, and hope that the people see what we're trying to do and like it,'" Sandberg said. He praised the writers for their innovative approach, particularly the time loop concept that echoes the game's replayability and choice-making. "I really thought it was brilliant of the writers to come up with this time loop idea where the night starts over because then you do kind of get that feel of the game, when you're replaying it and making different choices. I think it's very much in the spirit of the game."

Sandberg understands the challenge of pleasing every fan when adapting an IP, but he believes his approach will resonate with Until Dawn enthusiasts. "I think we would've gotten a lot of critique if we had tried to [recreate the game], because people would've been like, 'It's not as good. It's not the same actors, because, you know, they're older now,'" he noted. "You wouldn't be able to better the game, so you'd just be in a losing situation."

Until Dawn was penned by Blair Butler and Gary Dauberman, the latter known for his work on It: Chapter Two, and features Ella Rubin in the cast. The film is slated for release in theaters on April 25, 2025.