Shazam Director Returns to Helm Until Dawn Film

Few would have expected David F. Sandberg, director of Shazam! and Shazam: Fury of the Gods, to ever take on another franchise film — and frankly, neither did he. But as his latest project, Until Dawn, prepares for its theatrical release, he’s looking back at the intense backlash surrounding his earlier DC Cinematic Universe setbacks and what ultimately drew him back to adapting intellectual property.

“What drew me to the script was that it didn’t attempt to recreate the game beat-for-beat,” Sandberg told GamesRadar+ about the beloved horror title making the leap to film. “Condensing ten hours of gameplay into a two-hour movie would have been a challenge — but even with a fresh take, the story remains genuinely scary.” He also observed that fans of established IP often have strong opinions about how their favorite narratives should be translated to the screen.

“Honestly, some fans can get extremely passionate — even hostile. You’re dealing with everything from harsh criticism to death threats. After Shazam 2, I remember thinking, ‘I’m done with IP-based movies. It’s just not worth the stress,’” the filmmaker added, reflecting on his DCU experience and its aftermath.

Yet, he found himself compelled by the story presented in Until Dawn. “Then this script came along, and I thought, ‘This is too exciting to pass up — exploring different horror styles in one film? I had to take the chance and hope audiences appreciate what we’re aiming for,’” Sandberg shared. “The writers came up with this brilliant time-loop concept where the night resets — it really captures the feeling of replaying the game and making alternate choices. I believe it stays true to the spirit of the original.”

Sandberg knows all too well that pleasing every fan in an adaptation is impossible, but his creative strategy may be the best approach to win over Until Dawn enthusiasts. “We’d have faced far more criticism if we tried to recreate the game exactly,” the Shazam director explained. “People would have said, ‘It’s not as good — the actors are older now, it doesn’t feel the same.’ You can’t outdo the game, so it’s a no-win scenario.”

Until Dawn was penned by Blair Butler and Gary Dauberman — the latter best known for writing It: Chapter Two — and stars Ella Rubin. The film arrives in theaters on April 25, 2025.