A&E's 'Omen' sequel series 'Damien' to star Bradley James, Barbara Hershey

NEW YORK, April 29 (UPI) -- A&E Network says it plans to air Damien, a new original scripted drama series set after the events of the classic 1976 horror movie The Omen.

Starring Bradley James, Barbara Hershey, Omid Abtahi and Meganlyn Echikunwoke, the hour-long drama from Fox 21 Television Studios and executive producer Glen Mazzara is currently in production in Toronto, announced Rob Sharenow, executive vice president and general manager of A&E and Lifetime.

Six episodes of the program were initially ordered, but the season since has been increased to 10 installments.

"A&E's unwavering commitment to high-quality original scripted drama programming, coupled with the sizable fan-base for our hit series Bates Motel, which so perfectly aligns with Damien, make the network the ideal fit for this exceptional show," Sharenow said in a statement Wednesday. "We are thrilled with what we've seen so far and know that Glen and the creative team have even more story to tell in Season 1."

"Damien follows the adult life of [James' character] Damien Thorn, the mysterious child from the 1976 motion picture, who has grown up seemingly unaware of the satanic forces around him," a synopsis said. "Haunted by his past, Damien must now come to terms with his true destiny -- that he is the Antichrist. Barbara Hershey stars as Ann Rutledge, the world's most powerful woman who has been tasked with making sure Damien fulfills his destiny. Omid Abtahi portrays Amani Golkar, a close colleague of Damien's whose fierce loyalty will be tested when he realizes who his brother-in-arms actually is. Meganlyn Echikunwoke plays Simone Baptiste, a woman whose life is thrown into turmoil when tragedy unexpectedly strikes."