Shazam Director Returns for Until Dawn After IP Movie Backlash

You might have thought that David F. Sandberg, the director behind *Shazam!* and *Shazam: Fury of the Gods*, would steer clear of IP films or franchises after the tumultuous reception to his DC Cinematic Universe projects. Surprisingly, he's back with a new film, *Until Dawn*, set to hit theaters soon. Sandberg recently opened up about the intense backlash he faced and what ultimately drew him back to the world of IP.

In an interview with GamesRadar+, Sandberg shared his enthusiasm for the *Until Dawn* script, emphasizing that it doesn't attempt to merely condense the beloved horror game into a two-hour movie. "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 high expectations and particular demands from IP fans, noting, "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.'" Yet, the compelling narrative of *Until Dawn* changed his mind.

Sandberg was captivated by the script's unique approach, particularly the time loop concept. "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. "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."

Understanding the challenges of adapting IP, Sandberg believes his approach to *Until Dawn* will resonate with 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 stated. "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, renowned 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.