Shazam 2 Director Explains Why He Won't Won't Make A Superman Movie
Shazam! Fury of the Gods director David F. Sandberg explains why he has no interest in directing a Superman movie. Sandberg broke out with his 2016 horror film Lights Out and after following it up with 2017's well-received Annabelle: Creation, he took on the DCEU movie Shazam!, which released in 2019. The film was a critical hit and gained a loyal fanbase, and its sequel, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, is now set for release in December 2022.
One of the biggest appeals of Shazam! was the fact that protagonist Billy Batson was a kid living in the DCEU, where the Justice League exists. The movie ends with Superman appearing at Batson's school (albeit shot from the chest down), suggesting the potential for more crossover adventures for Superman and Shazam in future films. While it appears Superman won't appear in Shazam 2, with how well Sandberg brought a sense of hope and optimism to the world of Shazam!, many have hoped he would take a crack at project centered on the Man of Steel himself.
Sandberg, however, appears to have no interest in making a Superman movie. During an Instagram AMA, via ComicBook.com, the director reveals that he once wanted to direct the next Superman, but the franchise's fanbase has turned him off the idea. He cites audiences' reaction to Star Wars: The Last Jedi and notes he felt more comfortable with a character like Shazam, who had a smaller fanbase. Check out Sandberg's full comment below:
At one point I would have said Superman, but when there are so many different expectations and hardcore fans you're going to piss off so many people no matter what you do. Seeing how people react to things like The Last Jedi makes me want to stay away from things like that. Shazam! was perfect in that there hadn't been that many adaptations before. There are still people who think it was done wrong, but it was on a manageable level.
Since the release of Man of Steel in 2013, Warner Bros. has failed to capitalize on a direct sequel. Instead, the studio opted for a crossover film in the form of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016, and since Superman's appearance in 2017's Justice League (as well as in Zack Snyder's reworked version), the character has not been seen, other than the brief Shazam! cameo and a silhouette at the end of the Peacemaker season 1 finale. Multiple directors including Matthew Vaughn and Christopher McQuarrie have expressed interest in taking on a Superman movie, but the studio has yet to clarify the future of Henry Cavill's DCEU version, which remains in limbo.
In recent years, fan culture has gotten far more possessive and hyper-critical of properties, as seen not only with Star Wars but other projects like Ghostbusters, Star Trek, and Spider-Man, whereas smaller, niche projects like Guardians of the Galaxy have been able to forge their own path. Superman has been around since 1938, and with multiple incarnations over the years, everyone is likely to have their own set of expectations for the character that make audiences hard to please. Superman's cinematic future remains in doubt, but that leaves room for franchises like Shazam! to enjoy their moment in the sun.
Source: ComicBook.com