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Damien TV series: Bradley James is the Antichrist "in denial" - SciFiNow

Damien TV series: Bradley James is the Antichrist “in denial”

Walking Dead showrunner Glen Mazzara on what to expect from Omen spinoff Damien

Omen
Young Harvey Stephens as Damien Thorn in 1976’s The Omen

Nearly 40 years ago, moviegoers were terrorised by Richard Donner’s The Omen and a kid named Damien Thorn. The upcoming TV series Damien more or less uses the ending of that film as a launchpad.

“We’re picking up Damien at the age of 30,” explains The Walking Dead executive producer Glen Mazzara speaking exclusively to SciFiNow. “It’s really important to understand what this man, Damien Thorn, has gone through over the past 25 years. He’s been in denial of what he is. When we meet him, time’s up. He needs to begin his work and to start pulling things together and embrace his destiny as the Antichrist.

Damien Bradley James
Bradley James as Arthur in BBC’s Merlin

“Nobody wants to be the Antichrist and bring about the Apocalypse. He wants to retain his humanity, so there’s a real inner conflict there. But no matter how far he tries to get out of the supernatural grip that’s got him, it only becomes tighter.”

Portraying Damien is Merlin’s Bradley James. “This is a character that there’s so many different nuances to,” says Mazzara. “Bradley brings an intelligence and a humanity and a depth to the role that I’m really, really excited to see on screen.”

The way Mazzara views it, Damien is a series with great long-term potential: “The Antichrist is seen as a messiah in the Book of Revelation,” he emphasises. “He’s seen as a saviour, then he turns into a dictator. People willingly follow the Antichrist at first, and then there’s the moment of betrayal. All of that is very intriguing.”

Damien will air on Lifetime in the US later in the year. For more on the biggest new TV series, pick up the latest issue of SciFiNow.