If you thought you’d seen the last of David F. Sandberg helming an IP-driven project, think again. The director behind *Shazam!* and its sequel, *Shazam: Fury of the Gods*, recently opened up about the unexpected journey that led him back to the world of franchises—this time with his new film, *Until Dawn*. Set to hit theaters soon, the project marks a reflective moment for Sandberg, who candidly discussed the intense backlash he faced following his DC Cinematic Universe endeavors.
"What I loved about the script is that it wasn’t trying to recreate the game," Sandberg shared with *GamesRadar+*. "Trying to condense 10 hours into two, or something like that. But it is scary still, even though we're doing a new thing." Fans of beloved IPs tend to have strong opinions, especially when it comes to seeing their favorite stories translated onto the big screen. As Sandberg noted, "Fans can get very, very crazy and very angry with you. You can get, like, death threats and everything."
After the tumultuous experience of *Shazam 2*, Sandberg admitted, "'I never wanna do another IP-based movie because it's just not worth it.'" Yet, the allure of *Until Dawn* proved irresistible. "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.’"
Sandberg praised the writers' clever use of a time-loop concept, which mirrors the repetitive nature of playing through the original game. "I think it's very much in the spirit of the game," he remarked. His approach acknowledges the impossibility of pleasing every fan while staying true to the essence of the source material. "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.' 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 (*It: Chapter Two*) and stars Ella Rubin. The film hits theaters on April 25, 2025. Fans will soon discover whether Sandberg has managed to strike a balance between honoring the original and crafting something fresh.
