Skip to main content

The new Damien trailer wants you to sympathize with the Antichrist

It’s been known for a while now that A&E Network’s upcoming Damien television series would have a direct connection to the franchise-starting 1976 horror movie The Omen, but the degree to which the TV series and film would be connected wasn’t certain — until now, that is.

In the new trailer for Damien released by A&E, clips from the 1976 film are used to set up the premise for the series, which serves as a direct sequel to The Omen and follows an adult Damien Thorn as he deals with the ramifications of being the Antichrist.

Damien casts Merlin and Homeland actor Bradley James as the adult version of Damien from The Omen, and ignores the events of the 1978 sequel Damien: Omen II, 1981’s Omen III: The Final Conflict, and the final installment of the movie franchise, 1991’s direct-to-video Omen IV: The Awakening.

The series has Damien growing up to become a war photographer who struggles to avoid the tragic events of his past while avoiding the terrifying truths behind those events. Everything changes on his 30th birthday, however, when buried memories and the frightening destiny they foretell all come to the surface.

Along with James in the lead role, the series also stars Oscar-nominee Barbara Hershey (Hannah and her SistersThe Portrait of a Lady) as a woman tasked with ensuring Damien fulfills his destiny, Omid Abtahi (Argo) as a friend and colleague of Damien, and Meganlyn Echikunwoke (ArrowA Good Day To Die Hard) as a woman whose life becomes entangled in Damien’s journey.

Damien is executive produced by The Walking Dead producer Glen Mazzara, who also serves as the series’ head writer, with Golden Globe Award nominee Shekhar Kapur (Elizabeth) directing the first episode of the series.

Damien premieres Monday, March 7, at 10 pm ET on the A&E Network.

Editors' Recommendations

Rick Marshall
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
3 great dramas you need to watch on New Year’s Day
Colin Farrell, Joel Edgerton, and Viggo Mortenson stand in the water in a scene from Thirteen Lives.

Now that the end of 2023 has arrived, how do you want to spend New Year's Eve? We've already put forth some comedies, thrillers, rom-coms, and sci-fi films that are appropriate for the last day of the year. Now, it's time to suggest three great dramas that you should watch on New Year's Eve.

Because many of 2023's best dramas are not currently available to stream, we went with three of 2022's best dramatic offerings: The Whale, To Leslie, and Thirteen Lives. There's a lot of heartache in our first two picks, but there's also a chance for redemption. As we enter 2024, remember that dramas aren't always about trauma and tragedy. These are also the stories that can lift us up.

Read more
3 best (HBO) Max movies you need to watch on New Year’s Day
A man shines a flashlight in Barbarian.

2024 has rolled around, and you're looking for a way to spend the first day of the new year. If you want something to stream, Max may have the deepest bench of titles worth exploring.

From classics to more modern movies, it has something for everyone across an array of genres and categories. These three titles may not all be to your liking, but between them, you should find something that is exactly what you're looking for as you ring in the new year.
Barbie (2023)
Barbie | Main Trailer

Read more
3 great Prime Video movies you need to watch on New Year’s Day
best movies on Netflix Memento

If you're looking to have a quiet, chill New Year's Day (maybe to recover from an abundance of joy on New Year's Eve), there are worse ways to spend the day than by catching up on a movie or two. If you're looking for some movies to check out, though, Prime Video may have exactly what you need.

There are plenty of titles worth checking out on the service, but we've selected three that are particularly great. From a recent Oscar juggernaut to one of the funniest heist movies ever made, these are three movies you should definitely watch on New Year's Day.

Read more