The First Omen Trailer Reveals Eerie First Look at Horror Prequel

20th Century Studios has released its first trailer and new images for The First Omen, a prequel film for the long-standing The Omen franchise. The upcoming supernatural horror film, scheduled for a theatrical release on April 5, 2024, follows a young American woman sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church. There, she encounters a terrifying conspiracy working to bring about the birth of evil incarnate. Check out the eerie first trailer above, and read the synopsis below:

The First Omen stars Nell Tiger Free, best known for her appearances on Game of Thrones and Servant. Free appeared in seasons five and six of Games of Thrones before appearing, alongside Miles Teller, in Prime Video’s crime drama miniseries Too Old to Die Young. Free amassed critical praise for her portrayal of Leanne Grayson, a former cult member turned nanny to a lifelike reborn doll, in AppleTV+’s Servant, which concluded with its fourth season earlier this year.

Alongside Free, The First Omen stars Tawfeek Barhom (Mary Magdalene), Sonia Braga (Kiss of the Spider Woman), Ralph Ineson (The Northman), and Bill Nighy (Living). The film is directed by Arkasha Stevenson (in her feature directorial debut). It is based on characters created by David Seltzer (The Omen), with a story by Ben Jacoby (Bleed) and a screenplay by Tim Smith & Arkasha Stevenson and Keith Thomas (Firestarter). The First Omen is produced by David S. Goyer (2022’s Hellraiser) and Keith Levine (The Night House) and executive produced by Tim Smith, Whitney Brown (Rosaline), and Gracie Wheelan.

Related: The Omen May Be Scarier Than The Exorcist, and Here’s Why

The Omen’s Expanding Story

The Omen‘s now-expanding franchise includes the original 1976 film, two sequels, Damien: Omen II and Omen III: The Final Conflict, a 2006 reboot of the original, a made-for-TV movie, a failed pilot episode, and a 2016 television series titled Damien.

The first film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $60 million against a $2.5 million budget. The Omen remains a classic horror favorite for genre fans and critics, who praise the film’s strong performances. Directed by Richard Donner, The Omen starred esteemed actors Gregory Peck and Lee Remick. Harvey Spencer Stephens, who starred as Damien when he was only 5, earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture – Male for portraying the unsettling Damien.

The film followed Peck’s Robert Thorn, an American Ambassador residing in Italy with his wife Katherine (Remick). When their biological son dies shortly after birth, Thorn is convinced to take an orphaned baby in his son’s place but doesn’t reveal that to his wife. Little by little, Thorn begins to suspect that Damien just may be the Antichrist.

The film’s sequels, Damien: Omen II and The Omen III: The Final Conflict, followed the titular character through his teen years and adulthood. In 2006, a reboot of the original film, led by Liev Schreiber, Julia Stiles and David Thewlis, hit theaters. The Omen joins a growing list of popular classic horror films, including Suspiria, Halloween, The Exorcist, and Salem’s Lot, that have recently been revisited.

The First Omen lands in theaters on April 5, 2024. The original film, its sequels, and the 2006 reboot are currently streaming on Hulu.

Watch The Omen