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Oh Really?

A&E Tries Jumping Onto the Horror TV Train by Developing a Psycho Prequel Series

by Jamie Frevele | 3:57 pm, January 15th, 2012


Um, okay. Gross. I say this as a devout fan of the original Psycho movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock. But wanting to bring the same success of horror-themed shows like FX‘s American Horror Story, True Blood, and The Walking Dead, A&E has announced that it’s developing a series about the Bates Motel, the site of several murders at the hands of the titular psycho, Norman Bates (played by Anthony Perkins). The plot of the show concerns what turned Norman into a murderer. Maybe I shouldn’t assume it’s going to be absolutely horrible, but can I say I’d prefer to see Psycho left alone (after it was already subject to an unnecessary shot-for-shot remake)? Yes. I’m going to say that.

Bates Motel is the title of the pilot, which A&E is hoping will be picked up for series, and as a prequel, it will be delving into the life of Norman Bates as he became the weirdo who stalked the people staying in his motel and killed them while wearing a wig and his late mother’s dresses. If this sounds familiar, it’s because this has actually been covered in the made-for-cable Psycho sequel. Yes, Psycho IV: The Beginning is exactly what this show is about: the beginning. Perkins never stopped playing Norman Bates, and in 1990, he played an older version of the disturbed young man, looking back on his dysfunctional relationship with his horrific mother, Norma.

And now, the cable channel would like to make a TV series out of that. Only the pilot, which is being written by Anthony Cipriano (screenwriter of the movie 12 and Holding), is a sure thing so far, with no dates announced nor any stars attached.

(via Geeks of Doom)

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  • http://twitter.com/AbelUndercity Abel Undercity

    Somehow I doubt Hitch would approve.

  • Adam Whitley

    If they are doing an adaptation they should do one more closley related to the novel or the novel’s sequel even.

  • Anonymous

    I thought that sounded familiar

  • Anonymous

    I also remember a short-lived network series called Bates Motel from maybe the late ’70′s with Bud Cort (Harodl of Harold and Maude) as Norman. As I recall, it was more of a Fantasy Island inspired mystical place that somehow helped people find their way in their darkest hour. As I recall, it tanked in a big way….

  • Anonymous

    See, I remember a similar series from the 80s, where Norman (played by Perkins himself) acted as nararrator/host (think Fantasy Island or House of Mystery) sharing the stories of his tenants. It, too, died a merciful death. The only reason I really remember it is because I toured Universal Studios when they were filming, and they had refaced the motel in stucco. Okay, now I gotta go check this out and see if I was right. Off to IMDB…!

  • Anonymous

    Ooh! I think you’re right, and that I’m mixing the TV Movie of the week starring Bud Cort with the anthology series you’re talking about. Memory gets fuzzy from back then.

  • Alex T

    You guys are being a bit negative. If this is done right (as it hasn’t been in the past) it could be a a good show. 

  • Anonymous

    Olivia Hussey was pretty damn good as Mrs. Bates.  One very tactfully done scene had the pair playing on the floor when things got…adult.

  • Anonymous

    Will they work in the fact that Mrs. Bates wasn’t really his mother but, his aunt (see Psycho II)?
    Because, if you follow 2 it plays on the fact that because Norman’s mother was a murderer, it was genetic that he would be one too. 

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