With the recent success of television adaptations like Hannibal and Bates Motel, it’s no surprise that network executives are diving deeper into creating series out of classic horror films. It was recently announced that there’d be a Friday The 13th-inspired TV show, based in Camp Crystal Lake, and now we can add The Omen to the list.
Glen Mazzara, he of The Walking Dead, who ran that series for a season and a half has been tapped to write Damien, which will center of the little demonic Antichrist from the original film all grown up. Haunted by his past, and faced with grim events in his adulthood, Damien must finally confront his destiny.
So while the fact that another horror film is being adapted isn’t surprising, what is surprising is the network it’s slated to appear on: Lifetime. Yeah, that Lifetime. The one that’s traditionally been geared more towards female dramas, soaps, and reality shows. The network is going through a bit of rebranding, and is hoping to cash in on all of the interest shown towards genre fare with shows like Witches of East End, The Lottery, and now Damien.
Damien will be the latest chapter in The Omen‘s saga, which began with Richard Donner’s 1976 film. When that film scared up dynamite box office it lead to sequels- on the big and small screens- and there was even a failed attempt in 1995 to turn it into a TV series. There was also the forgettable 2005 remake, starring Liev Schreiber and Julia Stiles.
What do you make of this? Interested? Is Mazzara the right man for the job? Discuss.