The beast with seven heads and ten horns is set to rise again with the news that 20th Century Studios are developing a prequel to 1976 horror classic The Omen, titled The First Omen.
Deadline reveals that 20th Century Studios will start work on The First Omen, a prequel to the 1976 Fox horror, and that Legion director Arkasha Stevenson will make her feature-film directorial debut.
The Omen was directed by the legendary Richard Donner (The Goonies, Lethal Weapon) and written by David Seltzer (Bird on a Wire). Starring Gregory Peck, Lee Remick and Harvey Stephens, the film followed Damien Thorn, a young boy replaced at birth by his father, unbeknownst to his wife, after their child dies shortly after birth. Mysterious events and violent deaths occur around the family and as Damien enters childhood, they come to learn he is in fact the Antichrist.
It made $60M at the domestic box-office and spawned sequels with diminishing returns. A 2006 remake written by Seltzer and starring Liev Schreiber, Julia Stiles, and Mia Farrow was a largely forgettable exercise, although it grossed nearly $120M worldwide, which proves there is still some dollar in the devil.
Let us know whether you’re looking forward to hearing ominous choir music and growling Rottweiler dogs when The First Omen is released by heading to our social channels @FlickeringMyth…