Shazam Director Returns for Until Dawn After IP Backlash

The Director Who Swore Off IP Films Makes a Comeback

Remember when David F. Sandberg declared he'd never touch another franchise film after the Shazam! sequel backlash? Well, life had other plans. The filmmaker is breaking his own promise with Until Dawn - but this horror adaptation comes with a brilliant twist that might just silence the naysayers.

A Horror Game with a Fresh Cinematic Spin

Sandberg revealed to GamesRadar+ what pulled him back into IP territory: "The script's genius was in avoiding a direct game remake. Instead of cramming 10 hours into two, we're creating something entirely new that still chills audiences." The director knows better than most how protective fans can be of their favorite properties.

"After Shazam 2? I was done," Sandberg admitted. "The death threats, the outrage... Who needs that?" But the Until Dawn concept proved irresistible. "The time loop concept brilliantly captures the game's essence - those 'what if' moments when you replay making different choices."

Smarter Than a Straight Remake

Sandberg's approach proves he learned from past experiences. "A shot-for-shot remake would've been suicide," he explained. "Fans would've crucified us for not matching the original cast or the branching narratives." Instead, the film offers what Sandberg calls "a spiritual successor" - preserving what made the game special while carving its own cinematic path.

The project brings together horror heavyweights, with It: Chapter Two writer Gary Dauberman co-penning the script alongside Blair Butler. Rising star Ella Rubin leads the cast in this innovative adaptation hitting theaters April 25, 2025 - marking Sandberg's bold return to studio filmmaking.