Well, Lifetime Channel, you are just full of surprises. Billed as a “premier female-focused entertainment destination,” it used to be known for its made-for-TV movies and Army Wives. Then came Witches of East End, which I didn’t check out until I got the Season 1 DVD to review, because, well, Lifetime. Check out my review if you haven’t yet, but that show is my favorite guilty pleasure.
Then came The Lottery. Some sort of future fertility issue show? Ha. An absolutely excellent and chilling and thrilling and thought-provoking look at government control and the needs of the many vs the needs of the few, with some great conspiracy twists thrown in for good measure. Catch up with both shows On Demand.
Now comes the announcement that Lifetime has ordered, from former showrunner of The Walking Dead Glen Mazzara, his series entitled Damien. Yes, that Damien. The creepiest kid accompanied by the creepiest music ever in one of the scariest movies I saw growing up, the original 1976 version of The Omen. In Damien, we’ll be getting a look at the boy with the interesting birthmark as a grownup.
Now I have to point out that, as delightfully surprised as I have been with Lifetime‘s two ventures into Our Kind of Shows, their promotion of them tends to sometimes give the wrong impression. So I’m choosing to not be concerned with one of the words used to describe the Antichrist. You’ll see.
LIFETIME ORDERS GLEN MAZZARA’S DAMIEN STRAIGHT TO SERIES
Network to Air in 2015 Six Episodes of Drama Based on Iconic Motion Picture THE OMEN and Produced by Fox Television Studios
Ross Fineman and Pancho Mansfield also to Executive Produce
LOS ANGELES, CA (August 25, 2014) – Lifetime has placed a six-episode, straight-to-series order for Glen Mazzara’s drama thriller Damien, it was announced today by Rob Sharenow, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Lifetime.
Produced by Fox Television Studios and based on Twentieth Century Fox’s classic horror film, The Omen, the series follows the adult life of Damien Thorn, the mysterious child from the 1976 motion picture 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.
“We are thrilled to be bringing a contemporary version of The Omen’s Damien Thorn back to the screen. Glen Mazzara has re-imagined him as a dark, romantic, anti-hero and this fresh take blends complex characters with premium storytelling to make something truly original,” said Sharenow.
Said Fox Television Studios Senior Vice President, Programming, Nancy Cotton, “The Omen is a jewel in the crown of the Fox features library; we’re gratified and eager to bring a new iteration of ‘Damien’ and this iconic story to television – and to a new audience – through the vision of Glen Mazzara.”
Scheduled to launch in early 2015, Damien will be written and executive produced by Mazzara (The Walking Dead, The Shield) via his 44 Strong Productions. Ross Fineman (Lights Out), who developed the project alongside Mazzara, executive produces through his company, Fineman Entertainment. Pancho Mansfield also serves as executive producer. Damien is through Mazzara’s overall deal with Fox Television Studios, as well as Fineman and Mansfield’s first-look deals with the studio.
ABOUT FOX TELEVISION STUDIOS
Fox Television Studios produces scripted and unscripted programming for US broadcast and cable networks, and international broadcasters. Series include “The Americans,” starring Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys, “The Comedians,” executive-produced by and starring Billy Crystal, alongside Josh Gad, and “Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll,” created by and starring Denis Leary, for FX; “White Collar,” “Graceland,” “Sirens” and the upcoming “Complications,” all for USA; “The Killing,” whose fourth season is available exclusively on Netflix; the half-hour comedy, “Maron,” for IFC, in its second season; and new series “Damien” for Lifetime.
ABOUT LIFETIME
Lifetime is a premier female-focused entertainment destination dedicated to offering the highest quality original programming spanning scripted series, non-fiction series and movies. As a result of the network’s aggressive programming strategy that has doubled the hours of its original programming, 2013 marked Lifetime’s second straight year of growth among Total Viewers. Lifetime Television®, LMN®, Lifetime Real Women® and Lifetime Digital™ are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, LLC, a subsidiary of A+E Networks. A+E Networks is a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation.
