by way of Warner Bros.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods director David F. Sandberg has taken to Twitter to remind audiences that sequel fatigue has been upon us for 4 a long time. Sandberg, who directed each the unique Shazam! and its 2023 follow-up, shared a picture of a cinema marquee through which 4 of the 5 titles displayed are a part of a franchise — particularly that of Scream 6, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Avatar: The Means of Water and his personal Fury of the Gods.
“I hold seeing folks sharing this picture and saying there are not any authentic movies anymore,” Sandberg wrote within the accompanying caption, earlier than mentioning {that a} related marquee of franchise installments would possibly’ve been displayed in 1983. “However 40 years in the past that signal may have mentioned: Jaws 3, Superman 3, James Bond 13, Star Wars 3, Twilight Zone: The Film,” the director wrote.
I hold seeing folks sharing this picture and saying there are not any authentic movies anymore. However 40 years in the past that signal may have mentioned:
Jaws 3
Superman 3
James Bond 13
Star Wars 3
Twilight Zone: The Film pic.twitter.com/NDWthWslyW
— David F. Sandberg (@ponysmasher) April 4, 2023
Seemingly preempting backlash, Sandberg admitted that whereas he doesn’t “disagree with there being too many sequels and reboots,” the presence of franchise movies in cinemas will not be “a brand new phenomenon.” He continued: “And fortunately, similar to 40 years in the past, there are nonetheless nice authentic motion pictures being made as nicely.”
I don’t disagree with there being too many sequels and reboots (regardless of having directed one of many sequels within the pic) nevertheless it’s not like this can be a new phenomenon. And fortunately, similar to 40 years in the past, there are nonetheless nice authentic motion pictures being made as nicely.
— David F. Sandberg (@ponysmasher) April 4, 2023
Alongside Fury of the Gods, Sandberg has directed movies just like the at present in-development Lights Out sequel, in addition to the Annabelle prequel, Annabelle: Creation. Whereas sequels had been actually round through the interval Sandberg speaks of — together with then-new installments of blockbuster franchises like Terminator and Indiana Jones — customers had been fast to retort that their presence wasn’t fairly as prevalent as at the moment.
“There have been about 13 sequels or remakes… launched in 1983,” one Twitter consumer wrote. “This yr we’re at 15 earlier than Might even ends.”
There have been about 13 sequels or remakes (like BREATHLESS) launched in 1983. About the identical or barely much less in ’84. This yr we’re at 15 earlier than Might even ends. 5 extra in June. One other 17-18 through the second half of the yr. 2023 shall be pushing 40 sequel/franchise/remake movies.
— Craig Barron (@imamacguffin) April 4, 2023
Fury of the Gods’ contribution to sequel fatigue is considered one of many criticisms that’s been leveled in opposition to the movie since its premiere earlier this yr. Final month, in response to the sequel’s lacklustre field workplace efficiency and unfavorable opinions amongst critics, Sandberg mentioned that he was “positively executed with superheroes for now.”
In the meantime, Zachary Levi — who stars as Shazam!’s titular superhero in each installments — has likewise responded to the movie’s poor reception. Earlier this month, Levi issued a “f*ck these guys” message to those that’ve criticized Fury of the Gods, and beforehand urged audiences to spice up the film’s Rotten Tomatoes rating.