"Shazam Director Returns for Until Dawn After IP Movie Backlash"

You might be surprised to learn that David F. Sandberg, the director behind Shazam! and Shazam: Fury of the Gods, is back in the realm of IP films with his new project, Until Dawn. Despite his initial reluctance following the intense backlash to his DC Cinematic Universe films, Sandberg found himself drawn to the unique script for Until Dawn.

In an interview with GamesRadar+, Sandberg shared his enthusiasm for the project, emphasizing that the film isn't merely a condensed version of the beloved horror game. "What I loved about the script [is] that it wasn't trying to recreate the game," he explained. "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 challenges of adapting a game, noting that fans can be extremely particular and vocal about their expectations.

Reflecting on his experience with the DCU and the subsequent fan reactions, Sandberg admitted, "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.'" However, the compelling narrative of Until Dawn changed his mind. "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,'" he said. Sandberg praised the writers' innovative approach, particularly their use of a time loop concept that echoes the game's replayability and decision-making mechanics. "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 that not every fan can be pleased when adapting an IP, but he believes their approach to Until Dawn will resonate with the game's fans. "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 explained. "You wouldn't be able to better the game, so you'd just be in a losing situation."

Until Dawn was written by Blair Butler and Gary Dauberman, known for his work on It: Chapter Two, and stars Ella Rubin. The film is set to hit theaters on April 25, 2025.