Six years have gone by since we first heard that 20th Century Fox was developing a prequel to the horror classic The Omen (watch it HERE), a prequel that was to be titled The First Omen. Now going by the slightly shorter title First Omen, the project is still moving forward after Fox was acquired by Disney. A few months ago, it was announced that the film will be directed by Arkasha Stevenson – who has previously directed episodes of the genre shows Channel Zero, Legion, and Brand New Cherry Flavor. Now Deadline reports that First Omen has found its lead, as Nell Tiger Free of the Apple TV+ series Servant has signed on to star in the film. This will be her first leading role in a major studio film.
In 2016, Antonio Campos (The Devil All the Time) was in talks to direct First Omen from a script by Ben Jacoby (Bleed). Later The Conjuring writers Chad and Carey Hayes came on board to work on the script, and they were followed by author Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl). It’s not clear what the credit situation on the current draft is, but we know Stevenson will be doing rewrites with her writing partner Tim Smith.
Details on the plot and Nell Tiger Free’s character are being kept under wraps. The Hayes Brothers said First Omen will show us “where Damien came from”. The film is being produced by David S. Goyer and Keith Levine of Phantom Four, with Gracie Wheelan overseeing the project for Phantom Four.
Directed by Richard Donner from a screenplay by David Seltzer, The Omen was released in 1976 and had the following synopsis:
American diplomat Robert (Gregory Peck) adopts Damien (Harvey Stephens) when his wife, Katherine (Lee Remick), delivers a stillborn child. After Damien’s first nanny hangs herself, Father Brennan (Patrick Troughton) warns Robert that Damien will kill Katherine’s unborn child. Shortly thereafter, Brennan dies and Katherine miscarries when Damien pushes her off a balcony. As more people around Damien die, Robert investigates Damien’s background and realizes his adopted son may be the Antichrist.
The Omen was followed by Damien: Omen II in 1978, Omen III: The Final Conflict in 1981, Omen IV: The Awakening in 1991, and a 2006 remake.
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