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Shazam! Director Reveals Death Threats Led Him to Avoid Big IPs After Furious Fans React

BBG News

After facing some intense criticism and even threats from DC fans following the release of “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” I, David F. Sandberg, must admit that I almost walked away from blockbuster movies. The fervor wasn’t just from the gods in our film, but also from the audience, which led to a rather overwhelming backlash from some very upset fans about my work within the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). However, when the script for the video game horror adaptation “Until Dawn” landed on my desk, I found myself rekindling my passion for crafting tales in popular IP-based projects.

After the release of Shazam 2, I was quite hesitant about taking on another IP-based movie because of the intense reactions fans can have, including threats. But then I received this captivating script, and I found myself thinking, ‘This could be an exciting challenge to explore more horrors. I guess I’ll have to take it on, hoping that the audience appreciates our intentions and enjoys the outcome.’

David Sandberg has been in charge of both Shazam! films within the DCEU. The initial movie debuted in cinemas in 2019, earning $367.8 million globally on a budget of $100 million, making it a box office hit. Unfortunately, the subsequent film released in 2023 didn’t perform as well, collecting only $134.1 million. Since directing Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Sandberg has taken up the mantle for Until Dawn, his first full-length production since then. He was captivated by the script for this survival horror film because it didn’t aim to replicate the game or compress a 10-hour experience into two hours.

The movie “Until Dawn,” penned by Blair Butler and Gary Dauberman, has yet to win over critics, despite initial positive responses. According to its summary, it follows Clover as she ventures into a remote valley a year after her sister Melanie inexplicably vanished. Her goal is to uncover the truth, but instead, she and her friends find themselves victimized by horrifying murders. The twist is that they keep waking up only to discover they’re back at the beginning, stuck in a repeating time loop. Each time, the murderer changes.

‘Shazam!’ Sequel Earned David F. Sandberg His Lowest RT Critic Score

In a surprising turn, Shazam! Fury of the Gods marked director David F. Sandberg’s lowest Rotten Tomatoes critics score of all his films at 49%, but it garnered his highest audience rating yet at 85%. The mixed reviews for the movie resulted in some critics criticizing its predictable storyline, shifting tone, and underdeveloped characters, while others praised it as an enjoyable and clever addition to the DC Extended Universe. At the time of release, Sandberg confessed he was a bit taken aback by the reception and hinted at wanting to revisit his horror filmmaking roots following his superhero stint.

During the initial phase of his filmmaking journey, Zachary Sandberg produced numerous low-budget horror short films, using the alias “ponysmasher” online. One of these projects, titled “Lights Out“, was later transformed into a full-length movie in 2016, marking Sandberg’s first feature film as a director and earning recognition as one of his finest works. Following this, he directed “Annabelle: Creation, Shazam!, and Shazam! Fury of the Gods“. Unfortunately, there are no plans at present for Zachary Levi’s DC character to appear in a third installment, with Sandberg or anyone else.

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2025-04-25 18:32

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