Despite the stigma many hold when they hear anything related to the Lifetime cable network, they have just added some talent to their OMEN series DAMIEN that makes me a little more interested in the project. DAMIEN comes from showrunner Glen Mazzara, best known for his stint on THE WALKING DEAD as well as the Starz series CRASH before that. Mazzara is producing the six episode first season of DAMIEN which has found it’s star and director.
Deadline reports that MERLIN and HOMELAND actor Bradley James will play the title character of Damien Thorn while Oscar nominated director Shekhar Kapur will direct the pilot. Kapur is best known to American audiences as the director of the two ELIZABETH films starring Cate Blanchett. As those movies rank as some of my all time favorites, this is exciting news.
Produced by Fox TV Studios, the six-episode Damien follows the adult life of Damien Thorn (James), the mysterious child from the 1976 film who has grown up, seemingly unaware of the satanic forces around him. Haunted by his past, Damien must now come to terms with his true destiny — that he is the Antichrist, the most feared man throughout the ages.
There have been four films made in the OMEN series as well as a reboot just eight years ago. Most folks are unfamiliar with the third movie in the original franchise, THE FINAL CONFLICT, which starred Sam Neill as an adult Damien rising to global power. This new take on the character has the potential to be another BATES MOTEL or HANNIBAL if handled correctly and could be the first thing I ever voluntarily watch on Lifetime.
DAMIEN is set to debut sometime in 2015.
