The Omen Online Blog

The First Impression

Fri, 10 May 2024 03:02:26 GMT

My Initial Thoughts About 'The First Omen'

I saw "The First Omen" with friends on April 5, 2024. When it was over, I had a lot to say. At dinner we broke it down. They seemed to like it more than I did. These are smart guys with good movie sense. And we all agreed that there were lots of positives.

But we differed on the negatives. Or rather, how much the negatives outweighed the positives. These guys like and appreciate the original, but I'm the die-hard. I'm the one who runs a fan website dedicated to “The Omen” and its franchise, and I've done so, to various degrees, for almost 25 years.

And I had issues. But I knew it was going to take a while to hash them out properly, so in the interim, I wrote down my initial first impression and posted it to Disciples of the Watch — a Facebook Group I run for fans of the Omen franchise.

But that was over a month ago, and I'm still not done refining the deep-dive review. So, for now, I'm going to share that first impression below.

April 5, 2024

Brennan: What do you think that Church is most frightened of?

Margaret: The Devil?

Brennan: Secularism!

I'm sitting here trying to reconcile my feelings about what "The First Omen" is and what it isn't. It's beautifully photographed. Arkasha Stevenson directs with bold and acute intent. Nell Tiger Free gives us a fearless performance. And Mark Korven's musical score is intense and inventive.

But its plot is a convoluted mess. The more they tried to explain just how the Antichrist is born, the more goofy it sounded. I thought nothing could one-up "Omen IV: The Awakening"'s "fetus papyraceous" reveal, but here comes "The First Omen" saying, "Hold my beer!"

Look, there's a really interesting movie here, with its own lore and mythos. It could have stood on its own. But we'll never know. Because they've shoehorned into "The Omen." Like Cinderella's step-sisters trying to jam their feet into the glass slipper. It just doesn't fit.

Why? Because the very premise of each film is at odds with each other.

"The First Omen" is about a Church splinter group who are so upset that people have left the Church, that they conspire to birth the Antichrist himself so that his presence in the world will scare the faithless back to the Church.

Okay?

Now here's the premise of "The Omen": a Biblical prophecy foretold for thousands of years is fulfilled with the birth of the Antichrist who will rise up to dominate the world and bring about Armageddon (FYI, that's the End of the World).

"The First Omen" completely rewrites the whole purpose of Damien 's birth. No wonder the filmmakers kept the original writer of "The Omen," David Seltzer , out of the loop during its eight years of development and then stonewalled him as it approached release.

I think "The First Omen" has some sharp observations about the Church and some timely, important things to say about female bodily autonomy. But in order to say them they have to change the premise of the original.

Well, I'm sorry, but waltzing-in 50 years later to hollow-out the guts of "The Omen" so that your movie can fit all nice and tidy into its empty husk is just lazy and cheap and profoundly disrespectful of the original.

2.5/5 — Paul K. Bisson

'The First Omen' Is Based on Characters Created by David Seltzer, So Why Is 20th Century Studios / Disney Stonewalling Him?

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 11:04:12 GMT

"I haven't heard a word from them." — David Seltzer

When news first broke in 2016 of an "Omen" prequel, I wrote about the perfect source from which to mine ideas for a story — "The Omen" novelization! — which just happened to be written by the same guy who wrote the movie: David Seltzer . He was on set the day they were filming the famous decapitation scene. And the power of that shot convinced him that the movie would be a hit. So why not try to do the same with a novel?

Seltzer discovered that a novel allowed him to expand upon his original screenplay in ways celluloid couldn’t. He could peer into the hidden backstories of certain characters and events; reveal their inner thoughts and fears. Did you know that the birth of the Antichrist was attempted twice before Damien? Once in the 11th Century and again in 1710. Both were thwarted by the ancestors of Bugenhagen — the old man at the end of the movie (Leo McKern) who tells Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) how to kill the son of the Devil.

And what about Father Brennan, the desperate priest (Patrick Troughton) who tries to warn Thorn and gets impaled for his trouble? He told Thorn that he "witnessed the birth." But he did more than that. How much more? And how horrific were his actions? It's in the book. And what of the creepy governess, Mrs. Baylock, played with relish by Billie Whitelaw? Her real name is B’aalock — together with another sinister woman named B’aalam, they wreak havoc leading up to Damien's birth. They are the Devil’s handmaidens, after all.

It's all in the book. The book that became a best-seller.

But even as I published my post, I knew how unlikely it was that Seltzer's backstories would be adapted for the screen. To fans, returning to the source material is logical and intuitive. But would Hollywood even remember that there was a novelization? In any event the prequel script was written by relative newcomer Ben Jacoby. And in talks to direct was independent filmmaker, Antonio Campos.

But by 2020 Campos had moved on and other writers had taken a stab at the script, including "The Conjuring" Hayes brothers and "Gone Girl," Gillian Flynn. Then, in May 2022, genre TV director Arkasha Stevenson was hired to direct. She would also be rewriting the script with her writing partner Tim Smith. And by August 2022, Nell Tiger Free of "Game of Thrones" and "Servant" fame was cast in a lead role.

Streams of different writers isn't always encouraging. A new director hire might be promising. But a rising actor being cast in a leading role?—that was real traction against years of development hell. The Internet was abuzz. And I wasted no time in sharing the news on social media, and in our "Disciples of the Watch" Facebook Group.

To which David Seltzer himself replied with a comment.

I had reached out to David on Facebook years earlier and told him about my Omen Online fan site and its social media outlets and invited him to visit any time. And in every chat we've had I've never found him to be less than gracious and kind and thankful to the fans. But this time, he sounded surprised and a little irritated:

"Nobody has checked in with me which they'd better do if they think they're naming it, The First Omen (implying the original was a sequel) and using my characters without legal clearance from me. Jus' sayin' - I hope they read this."

Needless to say, I was shocked. I figured notifying the writer of the original was standard practice when creating a derivative work. And wouldn't David receive an on-screen credit? "Based on characters created by David Seltzer," has appeared on every sequel, including the "Damien" TV show. Hell!—the 2006 remake was so close to the original that David got the sole writing credit — again! — despite another writer having been touted.

And then it struck me: if David Seltzer hasn't been contacted then maybe the movie really doesn't have anything to do with "The Omen." Maybe it's something completely new with all new ideas. In the summer of 2022 there were no available plot details. In fact, since 2016, through all the far and few between reports of directors and writers coming and going, no details about the story were ever released.

No "official" details, that is. But back when Chad and Corey Hayes were interviewed about their work on the script, Cary said, "We get to tell you where Damien came from. It was really fun. That was great." Sounds like a huge connection to me! And then there's the title. The prequel has been referred to as "The First Omen" since it was first reported in 2016 — despite the use of "The Jackal" on set when filming started in the Fall of 2022.

But when David left his comment, we didn't know anything about the plot. All we could do was rally behind him as we waited to learn more. By January 2023 filming was done. Shortly thereafter, notable actors like Bill Nighy and Ralph Ineson started appearing in the IMDb credits for the film. My eyes lit up when I saw the names of two characters from "The Omen" — Father Spiletto, the priest who convinces Robert Thorn to adopt Damien. And the aforementioned doomed Father Brennan (Ineson).

Now there was no question that this film was intricately connected to the original. Over the summer word of positive test-screenings started spreading on social media. But no leaked footage or plot details. And then in November 2023, 20th Century Studios released the official logline and 'first look' image. It showed Nell Tiger Free dressed as a nun standing in a religious setting surrounded by candles.

The logline read:

"When a young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, she encounters a darkness that causes her to question her own faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of evil incarnate."

Internet musings erupted. Many compared the description to the recent "Nun" movies. But I was more forgiving; I liked the premise. It seemed to me that the story would explore the events leading up to Damien's birth. But they were going to do it through the eyes of this new protagonist. And it could easily fit into Seltzer's framework without contradicting or otherwise disrupting what he had established on screen in "The Omen" or in his novelization.

The press release continued:

“The First Omen” stars Nell Tiger Free (“Servant”), Tawfeek Barhom (“Mary Magdalene”), Sonia Braga (“Kiss of the Spider Woman”), Ralph Ineson (“The Northman”), and Bill Nighy (“Living”). The film is directed by Arkasha Stevenson, based on characters created by David Seltzer (“The Omen”), with a story by Ben Jacoby (“Bleed”) and a screenplay by Tim Smith & Arkasha Stevenson and Keith Thomas (“Firestarter”).

And there it was: "based on characters created by David Seltzer (“The Omen”)" — I think I audibly sighed with relief. Everything was right again. I'm not sure how I would have approached supporting this new film had David not received this credit and all that comes with it. I intended to message him to confirm that everything was square, but Thanksgiving was fast approaching and I got swept up in family affairs. Christmastime proved even more consuming.

And then suddenly we were in a new year. But if I ever needed a reminder to message David, a better one could not have presented itself when on January 3, 2024 a 7-second teaser for "The First Omen" hit the Internet. Nothing we see connects it to "The Omen." But what we hear seals the deal — or more accurately — Who we hear. The voice plays in reverse, which adds a creepy element to the visuals. But when played properly, it's far more chilling.

It's a line of audio from "The Omen" where Holly Palance, as Damien's young nanny, intones the words that have forever haunted us, words spoken just before she hangs herself at Damien's outdoor birthday party.

Words written by David Seltzer:

"Look at me, Damien. It's all for you!"

I practically ripped open my laptop to message David. I wondered how he would react to learning that his most famous line was used in the teaser. I wanted to build up to it, so I began by addressing the issue at hand: "David! Tomorrow the trailer for 'The First Omen' drops. We haven't talked in a while so I'm hoping that all has been rectified in the interim."

He typed back: "Oddly enough - predictably enough - I haven't heard a word from them. And much appreciate your advance notice."

I was stunned. I shouldn't have been; I've heard all the same horror stories about Hollywood as you have. But with the recent 2023 Writers strike fresh in my head, I was stunned that David Seltzer hadn't "heard a word from them." The guy who wrote "one of the most thrilling films in cinematic history," according to the AFI, hadn't heard from the folks who were making a new movie based on his work. Still? It opens in three months!

Over the next two weeks I would learn from David that the Powers That Be had refused to answer, or acknowledge calls from the lawyers of the Writers Guild on his behalf — which is not only rude but exploitative. With all we now know about "The First Omen," it simply could not exist without his characters and story. And, quite frankly, it pisses me off, as a fan. The way he's been treated. The way he's been ignored.

I started The Omen Online as a simple appreciation fan site. A place where folks could come to learn about the franchise and meet other fans to talk about it. It's a tiny platform on the Internet with limited reach. But I'll be damned if I'm not going to use it to get the word out and express my feelings on the matter. My hope is that other venues will read this and follow suit. I should be excited about a new Omen movie on the horizon — and I am! — but I'm also deeply disappointed.

Richard Donner is gone. Harvey Bernhard, too. Mace Neufeld, Gregory Peck, Jerry Goldsmith, Lee Remick, Charles Orme, David Warner, Gilbert Taylor, Billie Whitelaw — the list goes on. David Seltzer is one of the few surviving creators who brought "The Omen" to the screen. It takes a particular brand of hubris to ignore him while standing on his shoulders.

Paul K. Bisson

TheOmenOnline.com

Omen Print Revival?

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 00:23:35 GMT

Poland's First and Brazil's Second

Ben Jacoby, Hayes Brothers, Gillian Flynn Take Crack At 'OMEN'

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 11:09:54 GMT

Three Writers But Are We Any Closer to An Omen?

Last week, ComicBook.com offered the first piece of news in years regarding the stagnant Omen prequel — The First Omen. The entertainment website reported that during its interview with brothers Chad and Carey W. Hayes — the writing team behind The Conjuring films — Chad revealed that they wrote a version of the prequel script and that it was rumored to be going into production. Cary added: "We get to tell you where Damien came from. It was really fun. That was great."

But the website for their part cautioned that 20th Century Fox 's new Disney owners might not see the film's "disturbing subject matter" as priority content — especially during a global pandemic. This speaks to the larger concern that, in general, Disney might not know where R-rated thriller material fits into their family affair.

Absent from the article was any mention of Antonio Campos who was in negotiations to direct the prequel back in April 2016. But today, Yahoo! reports that Campos has left the project. In an interview discussing the director's latest endeavor, the midwestern gothic, The Devil All the Time (which begins streaming on Netflix t omorrow), Campos tells Yahoo! “It was very amicable the way it ended for me with the studio on that project. I’m excited to see the movie that they make.”

Campos went on to acknowledge that the original writer of the prequel, Ben Jacoby was succeeded by the Hayes brothers and then finally the script was tackled by Gillian Flynn of Gone Girl fame and the recent Sharp Objects.

Of the prequel, Campos told Yahoo! "That was a really cool project that I was involved in for a while."

At last report, The First Omen was being produced by David Goyer and Kevin Turen and their Phantom Four banner.

But where it stands now is anyone's guess.

Incidentally, back in 2016 I wrote about from where inspiration for an Omen prequel could come . . .

UNBOXING: Shout! Factory’s The Omen Collection Deluxe Edition 2019

Mon, 07 Oct 2019 14:47:00 GMT

Order yours here: https://www.shoutfactory.com/product/the-omen-collection-deluxe-edition

In 2016 — The Omen ‘s 40th Anniversary — 20th Century Fox released a special 4k screening of the film in select cinemas. This was to herald a new 4k Blu-ray release later that year. But then those plans were unceremoniously scrapped.

Fast-forward to 2019 — Shout! Factory has released a new Blu-ray collection featuring all four original Omen movies plus the 2006 remake. This Deluxe Edition uses the 4k scan of The Omen as the source for their new 1080p Blu-ray — and it looks amazing. The collection also boasts a slew of new bonus content — including new interviews with cast and crew and a limited edition lithograph.

We pre-ordered our copy back in June and it has arrived ahead of the October 15th release date. Here is our unboxing of Shout! Factory’s The Omen Collection Deluxe Edition.

Bonus Features as listed on Shout!Factory’s website:

DISC ONE: THE OMEN

DISC TWO: DAMIEN—OMEN II

DISC THREE: THE FINAL CONFLICT

DISC FOUR: OMEN IV: THE AWAKENING

DISC FIVE: THE OMEN (2006)

Development—Hell? Director Antonio Campos Starts New Film As Omen Prequel Awaits

Thu, 13 Sep 2018 06:00:00 GMT

In 2016 The Hollywood Reporter broke news that an Omen prequel was in the works — tentatively titled, The First Omen — and indie filmmaker Antonio Compos was attached to direct. At that time, I outlined one potential way a prequel could work . Since then there has been no new developments reported about the film.

Last week, Deadline reported that Compos’ next film will be The Devil All the Time , a drama that goes into production in February 2019. This means Compos won’t be turning his attention to The First Omen anytime soon — considering he’s also attached to rewrite and direct the Fox Searchlight horror film Splitfoot.

Compos won acclaim in 2016 for directing Christine , a drama based on the true story of 1970s TV reporter Christine Chubbuck who struggled with depression and committed suicide during a live news broadcast.

According to IMDb, The First Omen is still designated as “announced” with Compos still attached to direct. At last report, it’s being produced by David Goyer and Kevin Turen and their Phantom Four banner from a script by Ben Jacoby . But only time will tell when the wheels start turning on the project.

Multiple USA Streaming Services Offering Complete DAMIEN Series in High Definition for ONLY $4.99!

Fri, 08 Jun 2018 07:12:00 GMT

It’s been a year since Glen Mazzara ‘s Damien, starring Bradly James was released on DVD . And we still don’t have a Blu-ray edition! What’s a Damien fan to do? Easy: get the whole series, all ten episodes, in HD for a ridiculously low $4.99. That’s right, Amazon , iTunes , Google Play / YouTube , and VuDu are all offering the series in HD for FIVE BUCKS! You can also watch the show if you subscribe to Hulu . This is for North America . It may be different elsewhere. So get your Thorn on! And happy watching.

DAMIEN Complete Series DVD expected in JAPAN April 5th. Also packaged with OMEN 40th Anniversary Blu-ray set. Digital HD available NOW in USA for $4.99

Sat, 11 Mar 2017 00:37:00 GMT

One year ago this week A&E premiered a drama that dared to ask the question: What ever happened to that little boy at the end of The Omen ? Showrunner Glen Mazzara didn’t care that the question had already been asked – and answered – in two Omen sequels; the Shield and Walking Dead producer had his own ideas. He cast British heartthrob Bradley James ( Merlin’s King Arthur ) as the Antichrist and set out to tell an alternate future for DAMIEN .

Despite a stalwart supporting cast ( Barbara Hershey was riveting while Scott Wilson kept us guessing); notable crew, including director Shekhar Kapur ( Elizabeth ), composer Bear McCreary ( Battlestar Galactica, 10 Cloverfield Lane ), writer Richard Hatem ( The Mothman Prophecies, Miracles, Supernatural ) the show received mixed reviews and not stellar ratings. It did acquire a loyal fanbase which rallied around the show when A&E failed to renew it.

These same fans have been waiting a year, clamoring for a home video release, with no hope in sight. That changed when the series appeared for pre-order on Amazon’s Japanese website.

The Amazon site says delivery to the USA is available . But if you don’t want to wait 26 days you can order the Omen Damien Complete Box (Blu-ray + DVD) instead – which includes the DAMIEN DVDs (no Blu-ray listed or shown) – and reads in stock . Keep in mind that these discs are coded for REGION 2 and may not be playable in other countries.

So, if DAMIEN is available in Japan, can other markets be far behind? Stay tuned! We’ll keep on the lookout. And if you come across any information, let us know!

In the meantime, if you absolutely need to watch DAMIEN right now – you can purchase the complete series in digital HD from iTunes , YouTube , and Amazon – for $4.99 USD . We don’t know how long this deal will last, so hurry!

Click to view slideshow.

UPDATED to include back cover art to DAMIEN DVD boxed set.

The First Omen?

Mon, 02 May 2016 01:59:00 GMT

On Thursday, The Hollywood Reporter broke news that a prequel to The Omen was coming from 20th Century Fox . Appropriately titled The First Omen , it’s being produced by David Goyer and Kevin Turen through their Phantom Four production company and a script has already been written by Ben Jacoby . Antonio Campos is in talks to direct. Now… I don’t know who Jacoby is and I haven’t seen anything by Campos or Turen. But I’m sure we’re all familiar with Goyer. Initially, I assumed the news was about Platinum Dunes finally gaining some traction on the Omen remake that Bloody Disgusting reported on in 2014. But no – this is really about a prequel!

And I’m shocked. More so than I was about the Damien announcement. I mean, a prequel? How much story is there to tell before the birth of Damien? It’s a valid question – one that movie fans took great pleasure in asking (and answering) all day long. The Internet was abuzz with theories and speculation. And of course, there was no shortage of people expressing their butt-hurt over the news. Many quipped that we already have the prenatal Omen in Rosemary’s Baby . Others joked that only a satanic sex-education film could serve the premise: depicting the devil getting jiggy with a jackal.

But we Omen fans know where to find eligible backstory that’s ripe for the telling: The Omen novelization.

During an interview appearing on the The Omen Collector’s Edition DVD (2006) , screenwriter David Seltzer remembered when he decided to turn his screenplay into a book: he was visiting the set while director Richard Donner was filming the infamous decapitation scene. The spectacle of it all convinced him that the movie was going to be a hit. “If I run home,” he recalled thinking, “I’ve got about five weeks to do a novel.” And that’s what he did. The book was published ahead of the movie’s release and became a best-seller.

But the novelization isn’t just a rehash of the film. The book allowed Seltzer to explore the macabre details leading up to Damien’s birth and the players involved. It also afforded him the opportunity to salvage character elements written for the screenplay but scrapped for the film. For instance, in the movie, lanky David Warner plays the photographer Jennings – but on paper he’s described as having a “hulking frame.” Same for the sinister Mrs. Baylock, portrayed for much of the film with quiet dignity by petite Billie Whitelaw but originally written as “imposing, loud, and exuberant.” Seltzer successfully resurrected all of his initial characterizations for the book – which gives many scenes a whole new flavor.

However, the real interesting stuff is in the backstory. In the film, Father Brennan (played by Doctor WHO alum Patrick Troughton ) tries to warn Robert Thorn about Damien. He gravely declares that he witnessed the birth. But in the book, he does much more than simply bear witness – he is an active participant. Seltzer describes the priest’s grizzly involvement, joining Mrs. Baylock and Father Spilletto in the birthing of the Antichrist and the subsequent murder of the Ambassador’s son. In fact, it is Brennan (renamed Tassone in the book) who delivers the crushing blow to Thorn’s newborn. In other passages we learn of his days as a young priest, losing his way and being turned to the dark side.

But even more compelling is the mysterious character Bugenhagen introduced near the end of the picture (played by the uncredited Leo McKern ) and with whom Thorn plots Damien’s demise. Bugenhagen reveals the seven holy daggers to Thorn, demonstrating how to kill the Antichrist. He is perhaps the most intriguing character in the whole movie yet he is an enigma. It’s only in the novelization that Seltzer illuminates the Bugenhagen lineage: generations of “religious zealots; the watchdogs of Christ” who foiled two earlier attempts to raise the Beast, once in 1092 and again in 1710. A variation of this backstory was in Seltzer’s original screenplay with Jennings describing the man as a 17th century exorcist – but the “17th century” line was cut from the film.

And let’s not forget the mystic knives themselves; glinting stilettos with effigies of Christ on the Cross carved into the handles. Where did they come from? Who made them? Their origin remains a wonderful mystery. And a perfect example of why you don’t need to stray from the source material for inspiration. Holy super weapons, complex characters; both Brennen and Bugenhagen are deep reservoirs of story. Not to mention Mrs. Baylock, whose true name is revealed to be B’aalock in the book. Together with her sister-in-arms B’aalam they comprise a female duo of destruction responsible for all manner of evil deeds prior to Damien’s birth (they’re also the devil’s handmaidens, so says Seltzer).

All of this is fodder for a prequel. You don’t need to create from whole cloth. But people like their own ideas. And fresh new ideas are not a bad thing when it comes to derivative works…as long as you respect the source material. The Damien TV series honors the original while doing its own thing and it has developed into an eagerly anticipated hour of suspense each week; the future of The Omen seems to be in good hands. So, I’m more than willing to consider its unknown past . I have no idea what kind of scripture Ben Jacoby has written. But as a fan, I’m eager to find out. I just hope it has a Bugenhagen and some daggers.

Waiting for Damien

Wed, 09 Mar 2016 23:10:00 GMT

When Damien was announced in late 2014, I was blown away by the idea. To die-hard fans of The Omen , this was exciting news. Of course, I don’t speak for all Omen fans; I’m sure some hated the idea – and still do. They’re usually the same people who think it’s cool to hate sequels, prequels, and remakes, (some on principal alone) and who drone on and on about how unoriginal Hollywood has become. But sequels and remakes are nothing new – they’ve been around almost as long as filmmaking itself. Are they all good? Hell, no. Most are inferior to the original. And many downright suck. But when it works – it’s great. It’s all about storytelling. If the story works and it’s told well, does it really matter how derivative it is? And if it doesn’t work, so what? We still have the originals. I’m annoyed when people say a poor sequel has somehow ruined the integrity of the original. No, it hasn’t. Grow up.

But I digress.

I’ve come to rely on a sort of pattern from the Omen franchise. Every few years, it emerges to deliver some new form of itself, as if to remind us of its prestige in a world of louder, faster, darker genre fare. In this way, I suppose it’s not unlike other titles of old. But The Omen never enjoyed the kind of sequel success of the Fridays and the Nightmares and the Halloweens. Even “come-back” franchises with Norman and Ripley enjoyed better. The Omen seemed always to be working for its longevity; staying just out of sight, long enough to be missed but not too long to be forgotten (as if!), and then, like a fine wine, dusted off and shared anew, always managing to acquire new fans in the process. Indeed, if you possess any discriminating taste, all you need to do is watch.

So, let’s track: The Omen dropped in 1976. Damien-Omen II hit cinemas two years later, matching the original in production value if not in substance. In 1981 even the striking presence of newcomer Sam Neill couldn’t rise above the doldrums of The Final Conflict. Print adaptations followed the movies, and then standalone print sequels ( Omen IV: Armageddon 2000 and Omen V: The Abomination ) were published in the 80s. The 90s saw TV’s first venture into Omen territory with the dreadful apocrypha, Omen IV: The Awakening (no connection to Armageddon ). The bad taste was lifted by the release of a new laserdisc in the mid 90s that restored the original Omen to its widescreen glory. Then came a 1995 TV pilot which, inexplicably, had nothing to do with Damien (no wonder it failed).

The digital age brought DVDs in the early 2000s which allowed for some wonderful bonus material, including running audio commentary and rich documentary shorts boasting interviews with director Richard Donner, producer Harve Bernhard, editor Stuart Baird, and composer Jerry Goldsmith. But for fans who wanted more behind-the-scenes knowledge that included a look at Omens 2-4, they didn’t have to wait long as a flashy 2001 documentary aired one AMC called The Omen Legacy (breathlessly narrated by Jack Palance, father of Holly, the original Omen nanny who intoned the words, “It’s all for you!”). Five more years would pass before we got the most ambitious franchise spike: an equitable – but ultimately forgettable – fast-tracked 2006 remake, just in time for the 30th Anniversary. And then finally the Blu-ray special editions were released in 2008.

So, yeah, we were due for something new. But who could have imagined another venture into television? This time with a story directly connected to the original narrative? Well, just about anyone in Hollywood, that’s who. All the kids are doing it. Look at Teen Wolf , Hannibal , Bates Motel. And sure enough there are the obligatory hand-wringers declaring their outrage. As if turning films into TV shows is also something new. It’s not. Its almost tradition. Get over it. And yet, The Omen doesn’t seem a likely choice to rehash yet again. After all, Damien’s story, from birth to downfall, has been told on the big screen, sequelized on the small screen, and then retold on the big screen. Is this part of any franchise’s model for a successful TV series?

Yes. Bates Motel.

The celluloid similarities to Bates Motel are uncanny. Both Psycho and The Omen had great beginnings, both had big screen sequels, both had TV sequels, and both had big screen remakes. And yet none of that history held Bates Motel back. It doesn’t matter that Psycho IV: The Beginning already tells the story of Norman as a child and teenager. The producers of Bates Motel didn’t care. They saw fertile soil for telling good stories and that’s what they did. Characters – not continuity – drive the stories on Bates Motel . As long as you respect the source material, you can be as bold as you want. Why then, can’t the same be done with Damien ? I think it can, and I think Glen Mazzara has devised a devilishly good premise: forget Omens 2-3-4 and tell a new story about that cherubic little boy at the end of The Omen. Who is he today?

How’s that for the 40th Anniversary? It tops a theatrical remake, that’s for sure. And with ten episodes, the Omen mythology is about to get a whole lot bigger. Indeed, this will be the franchise’s biggest emergence yet. But there are lots of questions. And any Omen fan worth their self-inflicted 666 tattoo will be interested in the answers. In the last year, the images, teasers, trailers and interviews have only served to swell our curiosity (as they are designed to do). Therefore, I’m going to be curious. And I’m going to share some of my questions here:

Who Is Damien?

Okay, the slate is wiped clean after The Omen and we pick up 25 years later when Damien is 30. Yet he still doesn’t know who he is. Considering the powerful forces surrounding him, it’s hard to imagine that he hasn’t yet been turned to the dark side . After all, there’s an apocalypse coming, people to rule, nations to topple – I would think the Devil needs more prep time, get a head start on shaping his son for the Big Day. It’s true Jesus began his mission in his 30s. But Jesus knew who he was, knew what was to come. A critical character element will be Damien’s moral compass. Glen Mazzara talks about his struggle between good and evil. But who was the role model for good in Damien’s life?

Damien-Omen II had its problems, but it had it its strengths too, such as they were. One of them was seeing Damien as a teenager, his interaction with his family, who his satanic protectors were, and so on. One can argue that he turned easily to the dark side, after an initial – albeit dramatic – resistance. Chalk it up to his young age (and the time constraints of a 2-hour movie). If Mazzara’s version is different, how did Damien escape this same kind of indoctrination? Who guided him against the evil grain? If Rutledge was a force for evil behind the curtain, there must have been someone good in Damien’s life to run interference. Damien is essentially a good guy when we meet him. I want to know why.

The Omen

I attended the Damien panel at Comic-Con 2015 and I remember sitting in the audience as they played that first official trailer. I was blown away when I saw actual scenes from The Omen used as connective tissue. It was immediately clear that Mazzara wasn’t playing around; this new series was a direct sequel to Richard Donner’s 1976 blockbuster. I was thoroughly impressed and felt strangely reassured – as if somehow Damien was better for having such a definitive connection. My feelings were bolstered as I heard Mazzara speak fondly of The Omen and with great reverence. It was obvious to me that he was striving to imbue Damien with the same cinematic aesthetics that made the film so great. I couldn’t have been happier. But to what extent The Omen plays in Damien’s journey remains to be seen.

Rottweilers and Tricycles and Daggers, Oh My!

But what of the mythology? The rich tapestry of story elements that so many people remember about The Omen , what of them? The rottweilers made an immediate appearance in the first teaser. And then during the trailer screening I was ecstatic to see the red tricycle , one of the stilettos , and the 666 birthmark beneath Damien’s hair. More recently, a new sneak peek revealed a scene in which Damien learns of Bugenhagen , the man who gave the knives to Robert Thorn. The scene also implied that people know that Damien is the Antichrist. Indeed, in another sneak peek, Glen Mazzara states plainly that lots of people know the truth. That’s fascinating to me, especially when you consider to what lengths the Devil went to keep his identity a secret in The Omen .

Nevertheless, seeing this mythology addressed in Damien is fantastic. The poem that Father Brennan recites, “When the Jews return to Zion…” is a haunting fixture of the movie. Does it still have meaning in Damien ? Mazzara also has a unique opportunity to acknowledge (or adopt) some of rich mythos introduced in the theatrical sequels, such as Yigael’s Wall from Omen II . Painted by a 13th century monk who went mad after Satan appeared to him, the wall depicts faces of the Antichrist from birth to downfall.

Who is Ann Rutledge?

This may be the juiciest mystery of all. A bunch of us fans have had fun trying to guess the identity of Ann Rutledge, played with relish by Barbara Hershey. It would be quite easy and acceptable for Glen Mazzara to simply create Rutledge out of whole cloth. After all, one presumes that there are countless “disciples” out there, keeping a watchful eye on Damien. Yet, when you consider Mazzara’s commitment to The Omen , it’s possible that he might go deeper , past the celluloid, into the Omen novel . And it’s there you’ll find the story of two nuns within the disciple order called B’aalock and B’aalam ( named after the Devil’s handmaidens). B’aalam killed herself as part of a marketplace bombing. However, B’aalock went on to become the infamous Mrs. Baylock , Damien’s nanny-from-Hell.

But… what if B’aalam didn’t die in that explosion? A little creative license and voila, you have Ann Rutledge picking up where Baylock failed. If nothing else, it’s an interesting premise.

“Ave McCreary”

Lastly, the icing on this devil’s food cake was the announcement that Bear McCreary would be composing the music for Damien . Talk about stacking the deck! Bradley James, Barbara Hershey, Shekhar Kapur, Scott Wilson, and Bear. It seems Glen Mazzara wants to leave nothing to chance. But the question is this: will Bear incorporate some of Jerry Goldsmith’s Oscar-winning score? It’s a tough call to make; Damien needs its own musical identity – and Bear McCreary can deftly give it a unique voice. But even the 1990 TV sequel and the 2006 big screen remake incorporated Jerry’s music. This speaks to the synergy of The Omen and its score. And if anyone can create and maintain an original music identity while acknowledging that synergy, it’s Bear.

That’s it for now. Damien premieres Monday, March 7th at 10/9c on A&E. And I can’t wait. I’m sure it will yield even more questions and commentary. Stay tuned. I’ll also be posting a complete review later in the week. ‘Til then, remember… it’s all for you!

Bradley James is “Damien” in 2015

Mon, 08 Dec 2014 13:03:00 GMT

Merlin star, Bradley James has landed the title role of “Damien” in the upcoming Lifetime original series based on the 1976 classic, The Omen . Here’s an image to celebrate the news (click to enlarge). Details in the Deadline news article here . We’ll post more news as it happens.