One of the best sci-fi horror films of the ’90s (and best cosmic horror movies period) is finally getting a long-awaited expansion to its story, as the underrated Paul W.S. Anderson flick Event Horizon is receiving a prequel from IDW Publishing in August 2025.
The five-part prequel comic series, titled Event Horizon: Dark Descent, will detail the titular spaceship’s initial journey through hell before the Lewis and Clark rescue vessel investigates the long-missing ship’s unexpected return in the film, and what happened to Captain Kilpack’s crew after the ship becomes a conduit for evil. The series is said to “embrace the hard-R rating,” of the film, according to IDW.
While Event Horizon wasn’t a critical or financial success, the film has gained a massive cult following over the years, with a ton of mystery behind the movie’s creation, the original lost Director’s Cut, and Hellraiser creator Clive Barker’s consulting on the film’s special effects and more gruesome scenes. Even decades later, the film is still revered for its particularly disturbing flashes of what happened during the ship’s descent through a hellish dimension, and its villainous performance by a possessed Dr. Weir (in an incredible and rare villainous performance from Sam Neill).
Related: Event Horizon Retro: 25 Years of Cosmic Chills
Event Horizon: Dark Descent is written by Eisner Award-winning writer Christian Ward, and the art and coloring are handled by Tristan Jones and Pip Martin. Several variant covers will be released, with art from Jeffrey Alan Love, Christian Ward, Martin Simmonds, and Joshua Hixson. According to Variety, Christian Ward said about the project:
“It’s a huge privilege to be handed the keys of such a beloved film, one I take very seriously and I have some extremely exciting things up my sleeve. Big gory swings will be happening. You’ll never see the film in the same light again.”
Fans of the film have been anxiously waiting for more than 25 years for an expansion of the story, with tales of sequels and television series popping up every so often from Paramount executives. With IDW’s announcement of a late-summer release, the story’s expansion is finally a sure thing.
Event Horizon: Dark Descent is part of a new segment of IDW Publishing, titled IDW Dark, which will focus on the continuations and expansions of several popular horror movies and franchises, including Sleepy Hollow, A Quiet Place, The Twilight Zone, and Smile. Issue #1 will be available at comic retailers on August 20, 2025.
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