We Need To Talk About Norman: 'Psycho' Prequel Coming To A&E In New Series 'Bates Motel'

Television

by Kevin Jagernauth
January 13, 2012 4:36 PM
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It seems Hollywood is realizing that a long time ago, a guy named Alfred Hitchcock made movies, and even more, they were pretty good. There are already a handful of Hitchock-based projects in the works including "Alfred Hitchock And The Making Of Psycho" starring Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren; "The Girl" about the director's relationship with Tippi Hedren featuring Toby Jones and Sienna Miller and a few remakes including a more gadget-driven version of "To Catch A Thief." Hell, even "The Artist" borrows the score from "Vertigo," much to the violation of Kim Novak. But, it's not going to end there.

A&E is going down the prequel path, putting into development "Bates Motel," a new series that will take place before the events in "Psycho," showing the relationship between a teenage Norman Bates and his mother, and how he wound up a serial killer. But as fans already know, they've tried this before. Back in the '80s, there was a pilot attempted under the same premise (and title) that failed miserably. Then there was the made-for-TV "Pyscho IV: The Beginning" which used flashbacks and a small budget to try to tell the story of young Norman Bates again, but with dismal results.

But maybe writer Anthony Cipriano ("Twelve And Holding" starring a pre-fame Jeremy Renner) will succeed where others have failed. Or not. But, hey there's money to made. And anyway, there are only so many variations/episodes of "Storage Wars" A&E can make right? [Deadline]