Shazam Director Back for Until Dawn Amid IP Critique

Few expected director David F. Sandberg, known for Shazam! and its sequel Fury of the Gods, to helm another franchise film—including himself. Yet with his new horror adaptation Until Dawn approaching its theatrical release, he's opening up about the intense backlash from his DC Universe experiences and what drew him back into adapting existing IP.

"The script's brilliance was that it didn't attempt to replicate the game," Sandberg told GamesRadar+ about transforming the cult horror game into a film. "Condensing ten hours into two wouldn't work. Yet even while creating something fresh, we've maintained the terror." He acknowledged how protective fans become about adaptations of beloved properties.

Facing Fan Expectations Head-On

"Frankly, fans can become extremely passionate—even hostile. After Shazam 2's reception, including death threats, I swore off IP films," Sandberg revealed about his post-DCU mindset. "The negativity simply wasn't worth enduring."

What changed his stance? The innovative approach of Until Dawn's screenplay. "When this script arrived, its horror potential excited me. The writers brilliantly incorporated a time-loop mechanic that echoes the game's branching narrative—letting audiences experience that 'replay with different choices' feeling while telling a new story," he explained. "That creative solution convinced me to take the risk."

A Smarter Approach To Game Adaptations

Sandberg understands the impossible tightrope of adapting games: "Had we directly recreated the original, comparisons would've been brutal—different actors, compressed storytelling. You can't outdo a masterpiece, so why compete?" Instead, his team focused on honoring the game's essence through cinematic techniques.

Penned by Blair Butler and Gary Dauberman (It: Chapter Two) with Ella Rubin starring, Until Dawn strikes theaters on April 25, 2025—marking Sandberg's calculated return to IP filmmaking with fresh creative solutions for delivering authentic horror while sidestepping adaptation pitfalls.