David F. Sandberg Tapped to Direct Lionsgate Horror Thriller ‘Mommy’s Home’

David F. Sandberg, the Swedish filmmaker who parlayed a three-minute short into a Hollywood career spanning supernatural horror and blockbuster superhero fare, is set to direct Mommy’s Home for Lionsgate, according to a report from Variety. The project marks Sandberg’s return to the genre that launched him, following his work on the Shazam! films for Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema.

From Viral Short to Studio Filmmaker

Sandberg’s trajectory is one of the more distinctive origin stories in contemporary genre filmmaking. His 2013 short Lights Out — a taut, three-minute piece featuring a woman tormented by a figure visible only in darkness — amassed millions of views on YouTube and Vimeo. The attention caught producer Lawrence Grey, who brought the concept to James Wan’s Atomic Monster banner. The resulting feature, released by Warner Bros. in 2016, grossed nearly $149 million worldwide against a reported $4.9 million budget.

That success opened doors. Sandberg followed with Annabelle: Creation (2017), a prequel in the Conjuring universe that earned $306 million globally. Then came a sharp pivot: Shazam! (2019) and its 2023 sequel, which showcased his facility with family dynamics, comedy, and large-scale action — skills not obviously telegraphed by his horror resume.

Lionsgate’s Horror Pedigree

Lionsgate has long maintained a foothold in horror, from the Saw franchise (which began at the studio in 2004) to recent hits like The Strangers: Chapter 1 (2024) and the Hellraiser reboot (2022). The studio’s genre slate often balances acquired titles with original concepts, and Mommy’s Home appears to fall in the latter category.

No writer has been publicly attached to the project, and it is unclear whether Sandberg developed the concept himself or came aboard an existing script. The title suggests a domestic horror premise — possibly involving a maternal figure, a home invasion scenario, or a supernatural threat centered on a household — but no plot details have been confirmed by the studio or trade outlets.

A Return to Form?

For genre observers, Sandberg’s return to horror after the Shazam! films is notable. Directors who transition from horror to tentpole filmmaking don’t always circle back; some (like James Wan) maintain a foot in both worlds, while others (like Andy Muschietti) alternate between franchise installments and original horror. Sandberg has spoken in interviews about his affection for practical effects, tight shooting schedules, and the creative control that lower-budget horror affords — conditions more aligned with his early work than with DC Studios’ superhero machinery.

Whether Mommy’s Home will be produced under a similar micro-budget model or receive a mid-range allocation remains unconfirmed. Lionsgate has not announced a production timeline, casting, or target release window.

Industry Context

The announcement arrives amid a robust period for original horror at the theatrical level. 2024 and 2025 saw strong showings from non-franchise titles — Longlegs, Smile 2 (a sequel, but rooted in an original 2022 hit), Heretic, and The Substance among them — reinforcing studio appetite for fresh IP that can spawn sequels. Lionsgate, which lacks a deep superhero bench, has leaned into genre as a reliable commercial pillar.

Sandberg’s involvement adds a filmmaker with proven box-office instincts in both horror and four-quadrant entertainment. His Shazam! films, while not record-breakers, demonstrated an ability to balance tone and character — qualities that elevate horror concepts above pure mechanism.

What Remains Unknown

As of this writing, the following elements have not been publicly confirmed:

• The screenwriter or writing team
• Producers beyond potential Lionsgate and Atomic Monster involvement
• Casting discussions or attachments
• Production start date or location
• Budget range
• Plot specifics beyond the title
• Whether the film targets a theatrical or streaming-first release (Lionsgate has utilized both models for genre titles)

Variety’s report did not specify whether the project originated from Sandberg’s own banner, Mangusta Productions, or came through a studio assignment.

Looking Ahead

Horror remains one of the few theatrical genres where original concepts routinely outperform legacy IP on a risk-adjusted basis. For Lionsgate, a Sandberg-directed original represents a calculated bet: a director with franchise experience returning to the mode where he first proved his commercial viability. For Sandberg, it’s an opportunity to remind audiences — and the industry — that his horror instincts remain sharp after years in the superhero sandbox.

Further details are expected to emerge as the project moves toward production. Until then, Mommy’s Home joins a growing slate of original horror titles in various stages of development across major studios — a trend that suggests the genre’s theatrical health extends well beyond established franchises.