‘Lost’ Producer’s ‘Psycho’ Inspired Show ‘Bates Motel’ Heads To A&E
Thepreviously-announcedPsycho-prequel TV showBates Moteljust got a huge, exciting vote of confidence from its network: A&E. While most shows shoot a pilot, which is then tested and possibly picked up for a full season,Bates Motelis skipping that step and going right into full production aimed at a 2013 premiere.
The show, which will be executive produced byLostEPCarlton Cuse, along withFriday Night LightsalumKerry Ehrin, deconstructs the “formative” years of Norman Bates' childhood. It takes place well before Marion Crane arrived at the motel for her fateful shower, and is described as as “a cross betweenTwin PeaksandSmallville.” Casting and pre-production will begin immediately. Read more after the jump.
The Hollywood Reporterbroke the news of this encouraging development, which suggests the show is already a winner. Here’s a statement from A&E president and GM Bob DeBitetto as well as A&E executive VP of programming Dave McKillop:
As expected, the show will center heavily on the relationship between Norman and his mother which, as we saw inPsycho, turned out more than a little bit creepy.
Serial killer prequels and Hitchcock history are both subjects that are currently being explored at other places too. There’sHannibal, Bryan Fuller’sSilence of the Lambsprequel TV show that is currently in development, for one. Also shooting areAlfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, Fox Searchlight’s behind the scenes drama starring Anthony Hopkins, andThe Girl, which features Toby Jones as the famed thriller director.
Do you think there’s a reason why these two things are suddenly becoming popular? Will a show like this have legs on a cable network like A&E?
