'The First Omen' Is Based on Characters Created by David Seltzer, So Why Is 20th Century Studios / Disney Stonewalling Him?

But even as I published my post, I knew how unlikely it was that Seltzer's backstories would be adapted for the screen. To fans, returning to the source material is logical and intuitive. But would Hollywood even remember that there was a novelization? In any event the prequel script was written by relative newcomer Ben Jacoby. And in talks to direct was independent filmmaker, Antonio Campos.

But by 2020 Campos had moved on and other writers had taken a stab at the script, including "The Conjuring" Hayes brothers and "Gone Girl," Gillian Flynn. Then, in May 2022, genre TV director Arkasha Stevenson was hired to direct. She would also be rewriting the script with her writing partner Tim Smith. And by August 2022, Nell Tiger Free of "Game of Thrones" and "Servant" fame was cast in a lead role.

Streams of different writers isn't always encouraging. A new director hire might be promising. But a rising actor being cast in a leading role?—that was real traction against years of development hell. The Internet was abuzz. And I wasted no time in sharing the news on social media, and in our "Disciples of the Watch" Facebook Group.

To which David Seltzer himself replied with a comment.

I had reached out to David on Facebook years earlier and told him about my Omen Online fan site and its social media outlets and invited him to visit any time. And in every chat we've had I've never found him to be less than gracious and kind and thankful to the fans. But this time, he sounded surprised and a little irritated:

"Nobody has checked in with me which they'd better do if they think they're naming it, The First Omen (implying the original was a sequel) and using my characters without legal clearance from me. Jus' sayin' - I hope they read this."

Needless to say, I was shocked. I figured notifying the writer of the original was standard practice when creating a derivative work. And wouldn't David receive an on-screen credit? "Based on characters created by David Seltzer," has appeared on every sequel, including the "Damien" TV show. Hell!—the 2006 remake was so close to the original that David got the sole writing credit — again! — despite another writer having been touted.

And then it struck me: if David Seltzer hasn't been contacted then maybe the movie really doesn't have anything to do with "The Omen." Maybe it's something completely new with all new ideas. In the summer of 2022 there were no available plot details. In fact, since 2016, through all the far and few between reports of directors and writers coming and going, no details about the story were ever released.

No "official" details, that is. But back when Chad and Corey Hayes were interviewed about their work on the script, Cary said, "We get to tell you where Damien came from. It was really fun. That was great." Sounds like a huge connection to me! And then there's the title. The prequel has been referred to as "The First Omen" since it was first reported in 2016 — despite the use of "The Jackal" on set when filming started in the Fall of 2022. 

But when David left his comment, we didn't know anything about the plot. All we could do was rally behind him as we waited to learn more. By January 2023 filming was done. Shortly thereafter, notable actors like Bill Nighy and Ralph Ineson started appearing in the IMDb credits for the film. My eyes lit up when I saw the names of two characters from "The Omen" — Father Spiletto, the priest who convinces Robert Thorn to adopt Damien. And the aforementioned doomed Father Brennan (Ineson).

Now there was no question that this film was intricately connected to the original. Over the summer word of positive test-screenings started spreading on social media. But no leaked footage or plot details. And then in November 2023, 20th Century Studios released the official logline and 'first look' image. It showed Nell Tiger Free dressed as a nun standing in a religious setting surrounded by candles.

The logline read:

"When a young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, she encounters a darkness that causes her to question her own faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of evil incarnate."

Internet musings erupted. Many compared the description to the recent "Nun" movies. But I was more forgiving; I liked the premise. It seemed to me that the story would explore the events leading up to Damien's birth. But they were going to do it through the eyes of this new protagonist. And it could easily fit into Seltzer's framework without contradicting or otherwise disrupting what he had established on screen in "The Omen" or in his novelization.

The press release continued:

“The First Omen” stars Nell Tiger Free (“Servant”), 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, 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”).

And there it was: "based on characters created by David Seltzer (“The Omen”)" — I think I audibly sighed with relief. Everything was right again. I'm not sure how I would have approached supporting this new film had David not received this credit and all that comes with it. I intended to message him to confirm that everything was square, but Thanksgiving was fast approaching and I got swept up in family affairs. Christmastime proved even more consuming.

And then suddenly we were in a new year. But if I ever needed a reminder to message David, a better one could not have presented itself when on January 3, 2024 a 7-second teaser for "The First Omen" hit the Internet. Nothing we see connects it to "The Omen." But what we hear seals the deal — or more accurately — Who we hear. The voice plays in reverse, which adds a creepy element to the visuals. But when played properly, it's far more chilling.

It's a line of audio from "The Omen" where Holly Palance, as Damien's young nanny, intones the words that have forever haunted us, words spoken just before she hangs herself at Damien's outdoor birthday party.

Words written by David Seltzer:

"Look at me, Damien. It's all for you!"

I practically ripped open my laptop to message David. I wondered how he would react to learning that his most famous line was used in the teaser. I wanted to build up to it, so I began by addressing the issue at hand: "David! Tomorrow the trailer for 'The First Omen' drops. We haven't talked in a while so I'm hoping that all has been rectified in the interim."

He typed back: "Oddly enough - predictably enough - I haven't heard a word from them. And much appreciate your advance notice."

I was stunned. I shouldn't have been; I've heard all the same horror stories about Hollywood as you have. But with the recent 2023 Writers strike fresh in my head, I was stunned that David Seltzer hadn't "heard a word from them." The guy who wrote "one of the most thrilling films in cinematic history," according to the AFI, hadn't heard from the folks who were making a new movie based on his work. Still? It opens in three months!

Over the next two weeks I would learn from David that the Powers That Be had refused to answer, or acknowledge calls from the lawyers of the Writers Guild on his behalf — which is not only rude but exploitative. With all we now know about "The First Omen," it simply could not exist without his characters and story. And, quite frankly, it pisses me off, as a fan. The way he's been treated. The way he's been ignored.

I started The Omen Online as a simple appreciation fan site. A place where folks could come to learn about the franchise and meet other fans to talk about it. It's a tiny platform on the Internet with limited reach. But I'll be damned if I'm not going to use it to get the word out and express my feelings on the matter. My hope is that other venues will read this and follow suit. I should be excited about a new Omen movie on the horizon — and I am! — but I'm also deeply disappointed.

Richard Donner is gone. Harvey Bernhard, too. Mace Neufeld, Gregory Peck, Jerry Goldsmith, Lee Remick, Charles Orme, David Warner, Gilbert Taylor, Billie Whitelaw — the list goes on. David Seltzer is one of the few surviving creators who brought "The Omen" to the screen. It takes a particular brand of hubris to ignore him while standing on his shoulders.

Paul K. Bisson

TheOmenOnline.com