Vera Farmiga Cast As ‘Norma Bates’ in ‘Psycho’ Prequel On A&E
According to Entertainment Weekly, Vera Farmiga is set to play the most domineering mother in movie history. She will join the cast of A&E's "Bates Motel," a prequel to the 1960 Alfred Hitchcock film, "Psycho."
"[Farmiga] is a phenomenal talent who has demonstrated incredible range and intelligence in a number of landmark film roles, and we couldn't be more excited to have her join our project," executive producer Carlton Cuse said.
The role's description describes Norma Bates as the "... complicated, passionate, and compelling, Norma Louise is a smart, multidimensional character who is always capable of surprising us."
"Bates Motel," will be Farmiga's first role on the small screen since starring in USA Network's "Touching Evil," according to TV Line.
No actor was cast for Norma Bate's character for the original "Psycho" film, instead, she appeared as a voice and a corpse. Actors Paul Jasmin, Virgina Gregg, Jeanette Nolan lend their voice to the historic role.
Although lacking in special effects and gore, "Psycho" has remained one of the most frightening horror films of all time. It's genius has often been replicated but never duplicated. Perhaps Roger Ebert's review of the film sums it up best: "What makes "Psycho" immortal, when so many films are already half-forgotten as we leave the theater, is that it connects directly with our fears: Our fears that we might impulsively commit a crime, our fears of the police, our fears of becoming the victim of a madman, and of course our fears of disappointing our mothers."