Shazam Director Opens Up About Death Threats and IP Trauma

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David F. Sandberg has been at the helm of critically acclaimed horror movies such as “Lights Out” and “Annabelle: Creation”. Similar to other directors, he used these projects as stepping stones to greater opportunities. He ventured into DC’s Extended Universe to direct “Shazam!”, but found the experience less than ideal. However, a change of heart occurred when he encountered the script for “Until Dawn”.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I must admit that I quite enjoyed the original “Shazam!” film. It was a decent hit at the box office and garnered positive reviews. However, its sequel, unfortunately, did not fare as well. Released during DC’s transition away from their cinematic universe, it was met with harsh criticism from both critics and fans alike.

In an interview with our fellow site, Gamesradar, director David F. Sandberg shared a troubling revelation. The backlash against the franchise became so intense that he received death threats. This harrowing experience led him to reconsider his involvement in projects based on intellectual properties moving forward. He expressed…

To put it simply, being a part of an IP-based movie can lead to intense reactions from fans, ranging from extreme enthusiasm to severe hostility. The backlash can even extend to threatening messages. After Shazam 2, I found myself thinking that I didn’t want to take on another IP project because the potential fallout wasn’t worth it. However, when I received this script, I felt a strong pull towards it, as if it was an exciting opportunity to explore various horrors. Given this, I feel compelled to be a part of it and hope that the audience appreciates our efforts and enjoys the result.

Undeniably, if David F. Sandberg had chosen to create an original work instead of delving into an existing intellectual property (IP), there wouldn’t be passionate fans who feel so emotionally tied that they resort to threatening a director. It’s entirely reasonable why he might prefer to distance himself from such situations. Frankly, many fandoms can be quite intense and toxic, and Sandberg would not be alone in electing to stay away from certain projects to sidestep the challenges posed by dedicated fans.

In today’s Hollywood, it can be quite challenging to entirely step away from established intellectual properties (IP). It’s commonly believed that films based on existing properties are safer investments than original ideas, so these are the projects that often get produced. However, David F. Sandberg found himself drawn to ‘Until Dawn’, a script based on the video game of the same name, despite initially wanting to steer clear of it. Eventually, he decided this was a project worth pursuing.

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Essentially, the game “Until Dawn” is designed with the intent of mirroring classic slasher films in video game form. Consequently, creating a film adaptation isn’t primarily about staying true to the IP; instead, it’s more about grasping the art of making a horror movie. This, undoubtedly, is something Sandberg is familiar with.

So far, opinions about the movie “Until Dawn” are divided, suggesting that it wasn’t an essential film for Sandberg to produce according to some critics. However, our own review of “Until Dawn” found it quite enjoyable. We’ll discover this weekend whether or not the audience shares the same sentiment.

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2025-04-24 20:07