For some filmmakers, the opportunity to direct a comic book adaptation can be a dream come true, with the character potentially having played a pivotal role in their lives. For others, however, it could just be an interesting opportunity to further one’s career, as seems to be the case for Shazam! director David F. Sandberg.
The Swedish director recently revealed to Moviefone that, although he isn’t as familiar with the character as other filmmakers might be, he’s spending plenty of time researching the character to make sure he gets the movie right.
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“It wasn’t a character I grew up with. It was published in Sweden, where I’m from, in the ’70s, so it’s a little before my time. So I only knew him from the Justice League,” Sandberg confessed. “It’s not until now that I’m getting into the comics and reading a lot of the old ones, the Geoff Johns ones, The Power of Shazam, and looking at a bunch of animation. So I’m really getting to know the character.”
Much like Doctor Strange‘s director Scott Derrickson, Sandberg comes from a horror background, with his last film being 2016’s Lights Out and his upcoming Annabelle: Creation hitting theaters next week, but the filmmaker was quite excited to explore a new genre.
“This will be very different than what I’ve done in the feature space, because it’s not a horror movie and it’s a much lighter tone. But it’s something that I look forward to trying out, even though I plan to return to horror in some fashion,” Sandberg explained. “My background, back in Sweden, before I started doing horror shorts, I was doing animated comedy shorts. It’s not totally alien to me to have more of a comedy approach. I look forward to taking that on in a feature.”
The Shazam! film doesn’t have a release date but is rumored to be the next DCEU film to go into production.
MORE SHAZAM!: Shazam! Will Be Next DCEU Movie To Go Into Production / Shazam! Won’t Feature The Rock’s Black Adam
There’s no official synopsis for Shazam! or Black Adam, but here’s what Johnson had to say about the latter film over on Instagram:
“One of the most powerful anti-heroes on the planet is coming. And he is coming in hot. Brace yourself for BLACK ADAM! It’s a new dawn.
“Had a very cool and strategic meeting with the heads of DC about their entire universe. As a hard core DC fan, to get a real sense of the tonal shifts and developments coming in these future movies has me fired up. Something we, as DC fans have all been waiting for for a very long time. Hope, optimism & FUN. Even when talking about the the most ruthless villain/anti-hero of all time finally coming to life. Prepare yourselves DC Universe.”
