A beloved horror saga is set for a cinematic resurgence in 2024, as 20th Century Studios announces a reboot of ‘The Omen’. This new addition, titled ‘The First Omen’, is not just a reboot but a prequel, taking us back to the very beginning of the infamous narrative. The original ‘Omen’ film, a cornerstone of horror cinema since 1976, is finally getting its backstory unveiled.
Scheduled for an April 5, 2024 release, ‘The First Omen’ introduces audiences to a young American woman’s journey in Rome. According to the official synopsis, her path of religious service takes a dark turn, leading her to confront her beliefs and stumble upon a chilling conspiracy to birth evil incarnate. Fans can catch a glimpse of what’s in store from the recently released trailer.
This project brings together a diverse and talented team. The narrative is conceived by Ben Jacoby, known for ‘Bleed’. Tim Smith and Keith Thomas (‘Firestarter’), alongside director Arkasha Stevenson (‘Legion’), are the creative minds penning the script. The cast includes Nell Tiger Free (‘Servant’), Tawkeef Barhom (‘Mary Magdalene’), Sonia Braga (‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’), Ralph Ineson (‘The Northman’), and Bill Nighty (‘Living’). The production is overseen by David S. Goyer (‘Hellraiser’), with Keith Levine (‘The Night House’) co-producing. Executive production roles are filled by Smith, Whitney Brown (‘Rosaline’), and Gracie Wheelan.
A Revival Amidst Horror Reboots
‘The First Omen’ joins the recent trend of rebooting classic horror franchises. Its predecessor, the 2006 ‘Omen’ remake, followed three sequels: ‘Damien: Omen II’ (1978), ‘Omen III: The Final Conflict’ (1981), and ‘Omen IV: The Awakening’ (1991). An earlier attempt to rebrand the franchise in the 1990s with a TV pilot didn’t take off. However, the brand saw a brief revival with the 2016 TV series ‘Damien’, which built upon the original film while disregarding the sequels and remake.
This reboot mirrors the success of other franchises, such as ‘Halloween’, which garnered significant profits with its 2018 installment directed by David Gordon Green. This success led to a trilogy. Similarly, ‘Scream’ (2022) and its sequel, ‘Scream VI’ (2023), achieved box office success. Green also collaborated with Blumhouse for ‘The Exorcist: Believer’, a legacy sequel to ‘The Exorcist’, which, despite mixed reception, has sequels in the pipeline.
Mark your calendars for April 5, 2024, to witness the theatrical release of ‘The First Omen’. For more information on upcoming films and detailed reviews, visit https://hitplay.app for curated movie and TV collections.
