Shazam!directorDavid F. Sandberghas admitted that he almost gave up blockbuster movies after receiving “death threats” from DC fans following the release ofShazam! Fury of the Gods.It turns out that it wasn’t just the movie’s titular gods who were outraged, but also audiences, which led to some “crazy” backlash from “very angry” fans over his work on the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). He told GamesRadar+ that he nearly swore off working on another popular IP-based project, especially in the immediate aftermath of the negative response, but then the script for the video game horror adaptationUntil Dawncame along.
“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 afterShazam 2, I was like, ‘I never wanna do another IP-based movie because it’s just not worth it. But then I was sent this script, and I was like, ‘Ah, this would be so much fun to do, to do all these kinds of horrors? I kind of have to do it, and hope that the people see what we’re trying to do and like it.'”
Why Did Shazam: Fury of the Gods Bomb?
While many have complained of superhero fatigue for many years now, the dramatic failure of Shazam! Fury of the Gods speaks to larger issues.
Sandberg directed bothShazam!movies for the DCEU. The first film was released in theaters in 2019 and was considered a box office success, grossing $367.8 million worldwide against a $100 million budget. The follow-up film, which came out in 2023, failed to take flight, with a global haul of $134.1 million.Until Dawnis the first feature-length film Sandberg has helmed sinceShazam! Fury of the Gods. He said he was drawn to the script for the survival horror filmbecause “it wasn’t trying to recreate the game” or “condense 10 hours into two.”
Until Dawn,written by Blair Butler and Gary Dauberman, hasfailed to impress critics thus fardespite strong early reactions to the movie, which, per the synopsis, begins “one year after Clover’s sister Melanie mysteriously disappeared. Along with her friends, Clover heads into the remote valley where she vanished, in search of answers. They find themselves horrifically murdered, only to wake up and find themselves back at the beginning. Trapped in an endless time loop, they’re forced to relive the nightmare again - only each time, the killer is different.”
‘Shazam!’ Sequel Earned David F. Sandberg His Lowest RT Critic Score
Shazam! Fury of the Godsearned Sandberg his lowest Rotten Tomatoes critics score of all his movies to date at 49% and his highest audience rating at 85%. The polarizing reactions to the movie saw some critics highlight issues with its derivative plot, inconsistent tone, and lack of character development, while others found it to be a fun and smartly conceived entry in the DCEU. Sandberg admitted to being “a little surprised” by the reception at the time and expresseda desire to return to his horror rootsafter his superhero detour.
The early days of Sandberg’s filmmaking career saw him working on several no-budget horror short films under the online pseudonym “ponysmasher.” One of those projects,Lights Out, received a feature film adaptation in 2016, which became Sandberg’s feature-length directorial debut and isgenerally regarded as one of his best movies. After that, he helmedAnnabelle: Creation, Shazam!,andShazam! Fury of the Gods. However, there are currently no plans for Zachary Levi’s DC hero to return for a third outing, with Sandberg or otherwise.
Source:GamesRadar+
Shazam! Fury of the Gods
