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 diving back into the world of IP films with his upcoming project, Until Dawn. Despite the intense backlash he experienced with his previous DC Cinematic Universe entries, Sandberg couldn't resist the allure of the horror game's script.

In an interview with GamesRadar+, Sandberg shared his enthusiasm for the Until Dawn script, emphasizing that it doesn't attempt to simply condense the 10-hour game into a two-hour film. Instead, it offers a fresh yet terrifying experience. "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 explained. Sandberg also acknowledged the passionate nature of IP fans, who can sometimes react strongly, even with threats, to adaptations that don't meet their expectations.

Reflecting on his DCU journey, 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 script for Until Dawn changed his mind. He was drawn to its innovative approach, particularly the time loop concept where the night restarts, mirroring the game's replayable nature. "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 noted.

Understanding that not every fan can be pleased when adapting an IP, Sandberg believes his approach with Until Dawn is the best way to capture the essence of the beloved game. "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 said. "You wouldn't be able to better the game, so you'd just be in a losing situation."

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