A&E's New Norman Bates Chosen

[d3M0n]

Let's face it, filling the shoes of Anthony Perkins is no easy task, just ask Vince Vaughn. So you can only imagine what a headache it's been for A&E these past several months as they've searched high and low for the right actor to try and take over the iconic role of Norman Bates.

Well, according to TV Guide this long and exhaustive search has finally come to an end as the role has finally been cast to Freddie Highmore. The 20-year-old English lad first gained notoriety opposite Johnny Depp in 2004's Finding Neverland, and re-teamed a year later with Depp in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with Highmore playing lucky Golden Ticket winner Charlie Bucket.

Earlier this year, it was revealed by Bates Motel executive producer Carlton Cuse that his Norman might not be what fans expect mainly because he wasn't looking for someone to imitate Perkins, as this series will offer an original, multi-layered take on Hitchcock's classic. Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air) will play Norman's mother, Norma Louise Bates, who Cuse described to me as "very hot." (We certainly concur!)

The series, which will be a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 masterpiece Psycho, is expected to begin production by early October for a 2013 premiere.

Any thoughts on this shocking casting choice? Sound off, and I mean SOUND OFF below.

Source: TV Guide

source HorrorBid.com

[Drayton Sawyer]

Really don't know what to think. I haven't seen enough of his work to know if he's right or not.

[Leatherface]

Same, but I hate how they changed Mother's name from Norma to Loretta or something.

[d3M0n]

I actually never liked that they named her Norma. A lame move to me. What a lame attempt to show us the abnormal relationship right off the bat with those two, by his mother almost giving him the same name as her. A name which is a direct tribute to a womans name to top it off. Very cliche even at first run through. Just showed very little imagination.

[Leatherface]

True, but that was Robert Bloch's fault.

[d3M0n]

Yea, so never really liking it I have no real attachment to it.

[Leatherface]

Now that i think about it, it is a weird thing.

[d3M0n]

Calling her Norma just seems like an after thought thrown together really quickly.

So what do you guys like about them giving Norman a brother in this show? Kinda changes the entire dynamic of his relationship with his mother. Do you like it?

[Leatherface]

Hm, I wonder if they're gonna play it out like how I think they will. As in the brother will think Mom's nuts, Norman kills him, makes it look like an accident, and has the mom all to himself. Much like Ed Gein.

[stalker]

Something smells fishy here.

[SleepawayCamp661]

Not quite sure what to think, Filling in Anthony Perkins shoes will certainly be a tough job for any actor. I've got mixed feelings about it but we'll see once it airs.