You likely never imagined that David F. Sandberg, director of Shazam! and Shazam: Fury of the Gods, would ever helm another franchise film—and truthfully, neither did he. But with his latest project, Until Dawn, set to hit theaters soon, Sandberg is looking back on the intense backlash he faced after his DC Cinematic Universe films underperformed, and what ultimately led him to step back into the world of intellectual property.
“What really drew me to the script was that it didn’t attempt to simply recreate the game,” Sandberg shared with GamesRadar+ about the beloved horror title being adapted for the big screen. “Condensing ten hours of gameplay into roughly two would have been a challenge. But the film still delivers scares, even as we explore a fresh take.” He also noted that when it comes to adapting an established property, fans tend to be extremely particular about how their favorite narratives are brought to life.
“Honestly, some fans can become extremely passionate—even hostile. You can receive everything from anger to death threats,” Sandberg added regarding his experience with the DCU and its aftermath. “After Shazam 2, I thought, ‘I’m done with IP-based movies—it’s just not worth the toll.’”
Still, he found himself captivated by the premise of Until Dawn. “Then this script came my way, and I realized how much fun it would be to bring these horror elements to the screen. I felt I had to take the chance and trust that viewers would understand and appreciate our approach,” Sandberg stated. “I thought the writers’ decision to use a time loop concept—where the night resets—was brilliant. It captures that feeling of replaying the game and making different choices, staying true to the spirit of the original.”
The director is well aware that pleasing every fan in an adaptation is impossible, but his strategy may be the most effective way to resonate with Until Dawn’s audience. “We would’ve faced a lot of criticism had we tried to recreate the game exactly,” Sandberg explained. “People would have said it’s not as good, the actors are different or older now—you simply can’t outdo the game, so it becomes 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 is scheduled for release on April 25, 2025.
