SHAZAM! 2 Director David F. Sandberg Explains Why He No Longer Wants To Helm A SUPERMAN Movie

SHAZAM! 2 Director David F. Sandberg Explains Why He No Longer Wants To Helm A SUPERMAN Movie

Shazam! Fury of the Gods director David F. Sandberg has revealed that he was interested in helming a Superman movie at one point, but decided against it after... Star Wars: The Last Jedi?

By MarkCassidy - Mar 30, 2022 08:03 AM EST

DC Comics fans still hope to see Shazam and Superman face-off/team-up on the big screen someday, and while it might well happen, it doesn't sound like Fury of the Gods director David F. Sandberg has much interest in working with The Man of Steel... at least, not anymore!

During an Instagram AMA (via ComicBook.com), Sandberg revealed that he would have been happy to direct the next Superman movie if the opportunity arose, but was put off by the size of the iconic hero's fanbase

"At one point I would have said Superman," said the filmmaker when asked if he'd ever consider making a Justice League or Superman movie. "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."

Of course, Superman did (technically) appear in the first Shazam! movie, but only for a brief shot from the neck down. As things stand, the main DCEU doesn't actually have an active Man of Steel, though rumors persist that Henry Cavill is in talks to reprise the role.

The Shazam! sequel will see the return of Zachary Levi as the titular superhero, along with Asher Angel as Billy Batson, Jack Dylan Grazer as Freddy Freeman, Meagan Good as Darla, Ross Butler as Eugene, Grace Fulton as Mary, D.J. Cotrona as Pedro and Adam Brody as powered-up Freddy. They'll be joined by Rachel Zegler, Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu as the villainous daughters of Atlas.

Shazam: Fury of the Gods is set to hit theaters on December 16, 2022.

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GhostDog
GhostDog - 3/30/2022, 8:39 AM
“… you're going to piss off so many people no matter what you do.”

A certain majority in particular…

Anyway, it’s sad that it’s gotten to this point.
DudeGuy
DudeGuy - 3/30/2022, 9:17 AM
@BlackBeltJones - most people know how to see a movie, like it or dislike it and leave it at that. It’s the sweaty fanboys that act like a movie is either one of the stone tablets Moses carried down the mountain or an insult to their existence. It’s pathetic.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 3/30/2022, 9:34 AM
@OldMan - LOL the use of Moses tablets made me spit my water. You ain’t wrong man. Sometimes we joke about it all, but you ain’t lying about fanboys getting to entrenched with this stuff
DudeGuy
DudeGuy - 3/30/2022, 9:38 AM
@BlackBeltJones - haha crazy stuff bud. Hope the water didn’t damage anything. I love most of This stuff. Never played the “My fictional universe is better than your fictional universe” game and I’m not about to start now.
TheUnworthyThor
TheUnworthyThor - 3/30/2022, 8:43 AM
My advice to all artists: forget your real personal social media accounts and hire someone to tweet all the requisite promotion stuff the studios want nowadays. Save yourself a lot of aggravation.
TheWalkingCuban
TheWalkingCuban - 3/30/2022, 8:53 AM
“ you're going to piss off so many people no matter what you do"

Thanks for the vote of confidence, dad.
TheHumanSpider2
TheHumanSpider2 - 3/30/2022, 8:55 AM
90% of directors in Hollywood: "sir, the way to do a Superman movie...it doesnt exist"

Me: "Richard Donner was able to make the perfect Superman movie in a cave...with box of 50 years old VFX!"



Skestra
Skestra - 3/30/2022, 9:37 AM
@TheHumanSpider2 - I wish I could like this post more.
SerKurtWagner
SerKurtWagner - 3/30/2022, 10:45 AM
@TheHumanSpider2 - I wouldn't say PERFECT. Donner gave us real-estate scheme Lex and a whole lot of ridiculousness. But your point stands.
Reeds2Much
Reeds2Much - 3/30/2022, 12:30 PM
@SerKurtWagner - Donner gave us real-estate scheme Lex and a whole lot of ridiculousness.

Considering Luthor once planned to time travel, go to Krypton and marry Superman's mom the whole real estate scheme was almost pedestrian.
BraveNewClunge
BraveNewClunge - 3/30/2022, 8:57 AM
“ you're going to piss off so many people no matter what you do"

Considering the reception to Superman returns and MOS it's not just the Cult he's talking about..... the nostalgia police/ purist are just as bad when it comes to these things.
TheHumanSpider2
TheHumanSpider2 - 3/30/2022, 9:05 AM
@TheClungeMan - The problem with Superman Return was basically doing a sequel to the Donner films...with the same tone...25 years later.

That is why people love the Superman & Lois show, it has the heart of the Donner films, but with modern sensibilities.
Typhoon20
Typhoon20 - 3/30/2022, 9:20 AM
@TheHumanSpider2 - I hate that show. The actors/actresses are bad, the writing is bad. To me it felt like just another mediocre CW show. Maybe it looks slightly better, but that's about it.
BraveNewClunge
BraveNewClunge - 3/30/2022, 9:32 AM
@TheHumanSpider2 - it's actually just a medley of Donner and Snyder with some added teen angst 😂
TheHumanSpider2
TheHumanSpider2 - 3/30/2022, 9:51 AM
@Typhoon20 -
99OPTIMISTPRIME
99OPTIMISTPRIME - 3/30/2022, 9:04 AM
That's fair. Both Batman and Superman have A LOT of baggage, and fans with high and very specific expectations. That's why appreciate Zack Snyder and Matt Reeves, for having strong takes on the characters.
M3T4LL0
M3T4LL0 - 3/30/2022, 9:06 AM
If there is any superhero on the planet that deserves the proper on screen treatment it’s Superman. The grandfather of all hero’s has gotten the shaft way too many times. I seriously hope that WB gets their shit together and realizes that you can’t have a DC movie universe without the man of steel.
Spawnnn
Spawnnn - 3/30/2022, 9:14 AM
Still cant believe WB turned down Christopher McQuarrie, who has offered himself as a director, after he developed a plan for a Superman sequel while he was working with Cavill on Mission Impossible.

Arthorious
Arthorious - 3/30/2022, 12:45 PM
@Spawnnn - that should’ve been the easiest “yes” in Hollywood
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 3/30/2022, 9:17 AM
I Really think the creatives and execs over complicate the Superman franchise. Man of Steel was great action and Superman Returns had a great attitude of the character… can we just get a mix of those two and a villain we’ve yet to see??
Typhoon20
Typhoon20 - 3/30/2022, 9:18 AM
I understand and respect his reason. But at the same time I don't think people would be too upset over Superman movie. The last few were alright and I think it shouldn't be that hard to do better. All they need to do is stop forcing the ''darker'' elements and just make an old school Supe film. I think they did a great job with casting as the best part of the last 2 Supe films were the lead actors. The issue comes from the personal relationship aspects that kinda ruined it.

Maybe most people will hate this but I would make a Superman movie without focusing on Lois or anyone else. No relationships, just Superman being alone doing heroic stuff in a campy way. Just pure fun you know.
TheBlueMarvel
TheBlueMarvel - 3/30/2022, 9:28 AM
Everyone is blaming Snyder cultist for no one being able to agree on what is the right take on Superman, but remember it was always DC's mandate to make superman edgy. Zack just had to follow through on that vision. Im sure a direct Man of Steel sequel would've/could've picked up where the last one dropped the ball. Tbh I found MOS to be pretty hopeful, BVS on the other hand doubled down on the post Dark Knight edginess. Hopefully they just choose a good director and let them run the show, who knows what we could potentially get. Just hope it doesnt end up too goofy, the donner films while anmazing dont work in todays day and age. Lets go FULL on superman birthright, and all star superman. Lets get deep into the lore and his rogues gallery. #FREESUPERMANWB!!!!
MrDandy
MrDandy - 3/30/2022, 9:35 AM
They act like Superman is so hard to do lol! Meanwhile Superman and Lois is over here on a tiny tv budget going, “this ain’t too bad!”
Doomsday8888
Doomsday8888 - 3/30/2022, 9:39 AM
All seems lost in the war of light...
blitzkreg
blitzkreg - 3/30/2022, 9:50 AM
WISH THEY WOULD JUST GIVE BOTH SUPERMAN AND BATMAN A 20 YEAR BREAK FROM THE BIG SCREEN.
supermanrex
supermanrex - 3/30/2022, 11:26 AM
@blitzkreg - Orrrrrrrrr YOU could just take a twenty year break from the franchises and return while the rest of us enjoy this golden age of geekness.
Deadinside
Deadinside - 3/31/2022, 10:36 AM
@blitzkreg - 😳 WHAT?!?! Are you insane, man?
Do you have any idea as to how old I will be? No, of course, you don't...well, suffice it to say that I will be old, my friend, "close to dead" old!
So, I say, "Nay" to your ludicrous notion!
UXASIS
UXASIS - 3/30/2022, 9:55 AM
Has anyone been reading Action Comics: WarWorld saga?

They made a really good story with Superman almost losing hope, while Mongul psychologically tortures him with his enslaved gladiator planet.

I'd make MoS2 with Manchester Black (and the Elite) as the villain.

And the final movie of the trilogy would be set in WarWorld, with Mongul, while Superman must assemble a team of heroes to set WarWorld free.
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