Sonia Braga and Nell Tiger Free in "The First Omen"
The Omen prequel The First Omen will begin haunting viewers on streaming video on demand and digital video in late May.
Released in theaters on April 5, The First Omen takes place in 1971, five years before the events of the 1976 horror classic The Omen, which introduced the young Antichrist Damien to audiences.
In a press release issued Monday, 20th Century Studios announced that The First Omen will be released on such digital video platforms including Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home (aka VUDU) on May 28. On May 30, The First Omen will begin streaming on Hulu.
In addition, 20th Century Studios noted, that The First Omen will be released on Blu-ray and DVD On July 30.
The studio also noted that all five Omen films will be streaming on Hulu.
In The First Omen, Nell Tiger Free stars as Margaret, a young novitiate who relocates from America to Rome to work in an orphanage as she trains to become a nun.
Despite a warm welcome by a longtime friend, Cardinal Lawrence (Bill Nighy), in Rome, Margaret is soon chilled to the bone by startling revelations she learns from Father Brennan (Ralph Ineson). Brennan warns Margaret that a faction of the church is conspiring to birth a new Antichrist and he pleads for her help to prove the validity of his claims.
‘The First Omen’ Home Video Release Includes Insights From Stars And Director
Directed by Arkasha Stevenson, The First Omen’s home video release includes three key bonus featurettes.
According to 20th Century Studios, The Mystery of Margaret will include insights from Stevenson and the film’s stars Nell Tiger Free, Bill Nighy and Maria Caballero to discuss how Margaret is manipulated by the other characters while trying to uncover the truth behind Father Brennan’s claims.
Stevenson also is featured in featurette The Director’s Vision, which delves into how Stevenson continued The Omen saga’s legacy while shooting The First Omen through a female lens. Stevenson and her collaborators are also featured in Signs of The First Omen, which examines the symbolism featured in the film.
According to box office tracker The Numbers, The First Omen earned $50.5 million at the worldwide box office during its theatrical run.
The First Omen was a hit with critics as it earned an 81% “fresh” rating on the movie review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes based on 170 reviews. The film also received a 70% positive Audience Score based on 500-plus verified user ratings.
