You might be surprised to learn that David F. Sandberg, the director behind *Shazam!* and *Shazam: Fury of the Gods*, is diving back into the world of IP films with his upcoming movie, *Until Dawn*. After experiencing intense backlash from his previous DC Cinematic Universe projects, Sandberg initially swore off IP-based films altogether. "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,'" he confessed to GamesRadar+.
However, the script for *Until Dawn* changed his mind. "What I loved about the script [is] that it wasn't trying to recreate the game," Sandberg 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 was particularly drawn to the innovative time loop concept, which echoes the gameplay experience of making different choices and replaying the night. "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," he added.
Sandberg understands the challenges of adapting an IP, especially when fans have strong expectations. "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. By taking a fresh approach, he hopes to capture the essence of *Until Dawn* while avoiding the pitfalls of direct adaptation. "You wouldn't be able to better the game, so you'd just be in a losing situation."
*Until Dawn*, penned by Blair Butler and Gary Dauberman, known for his work on *It: Chapter Two*, stars Ella Rubin and is set to hit theaters on April 25, 2025. Sandberg's decision to return to IP films, driven by a compelling script and a new storytelling angle, reflects his passion for horror and his desire to engage with fans in a meaningful way.
