20th Century Fox is looking to its Satanic past for a future entry in The Omen, this time creating a movie that takes place before the iconic 1976 supernatural horror film, according to THR. This new project sees Antonio Campos (Christine) in negotiations to direct with David Goyer and Phantom Four producing.
The original film starred Gregory Peck and was directed by Richard Donner. It was a massive hit upon its release and is still considered one of the very best that the genre has to offer. It told the story of an American ambassador who believes that his son is the reincarnation of the Antichrist.
What I love about Fox embracing this idea is that Damien, the Antichrist from the films, is NOT the star. Damien is not and, in my opinion, has never been the focus of these films, even though he presents as the largest threat. The greater evil here is the Antichrist concept itself, which brings about the destruction of humanity and ushers in an age of apocalypse. Damien was just a vessel that we could watch, a figure that gave us hope that he’d be defeated.
I’m seriously loving the possibilities of a prequel. There are so many different paths this can take. And what’s even better is that we know the movie will end on a bleak note because how else can The Omen begin?
Bring it on.