You might be surprised to learn that David F. Sandberg, the director behind *Shazam!* and *Shazam: Fury of the Gods*, is stepping back into the world of IP films with his upcoming movie *Until Dawn*. Reflecting on the intense backlash he faced with his previous DC Cinematic Universe projects, Sandberg shared his thoughts with GamesRadar+ on why he decided to tackle another IP-based film.
"What I loved about the script [is] that it wasn't trying to recreate the game," Sandberg explained about the adaptation of the beloved horror game *Until Dawn*. "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 particularity of fans when it comes to adapting their favorite stories to the screen.
"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,'" Sandberg admitted, reflecting on his challenging experience with the DCU and its aftermath.
Despite his hesitations, the script for *Until Dawn* intrigued him. "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 for their innovative approach, particularly the time loop concept where the night restarts, echoing the game's replayability and choice-driven narrative. "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 the challenges of pleasing every fan when adapting an IP property, but he believes his approach is the best way to win over *Until Dawn* enthusiasts. "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 noted. "You wouldn't be able to better the game, so you'd just be in a losing situation."
*Until Dawn* was penned by Blair Butler and Gary Dauberman, the latter known for writing *It: Chapter Two*, and features Ella Rubin in the cast. The film is set to hit theaters on April 25, 2025.
