Written by Anthony Cipriano and produced by Universal Television, A&E has announced that it is developing "Bates Motel", a prequel TV series to Sir Alfred Hitchcock's legendary 1960 horror-thriller, "Psycho."
The original "Psycho" was based on Robert Bloch's 1959 novel of the same name. The movie had such a profound influence that it spawned three sequel films in which Anthony Perkins reappeared in his role as Norman Bates. "Psycho" was also notoriously remade in 1998 by director Gus Van Sant.
Funny, that there is also a television pilot (a failed one at that) created in 1987 that was supposed to pave the way for an anthology series. The TV film was about Alex West, a mentally disturbed youth who was committed to an asylum after killing his abusive stepfather. There he befriends Norman Bates and ends up inheriting the infamous Bates Motel.
With the financial failure of
Psycho III, Universal decided to continue the Psycho franchise as a television series; taking inspiration from the
Friday The 13th and
A Nightmare on Elm Street TV series. In that televised spin-off of Psycho, Norman Bates is portrayed by Kurt Paul, who previously stood in as a stunt double for Anthony Perkins in Psycho II and Psycho III. Perkins declined involvement in the project and even heavily boycotted it. The film was made as a pilot for a weekly anthology television series, but the series was never picked up. Thus Universal decided to air the pilot as a made for TV film over the 4th of July weekend. The film received mostly negative reviews and low ratings.
A&E's Bates Motel, on the other hand, will serve as a prequel story that delves into Norman's past.
About A&E's BATES MOTEL from press release:
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"Bates Motel serves as a prequel to the most famous fright film of all-time, Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960). A&E is currently in script development. "Bates Motel" will give viewers an intimate understanding of how Norman Bates' psyche developed from his childhood through his teen years. Fans will have access to the dark, twisted back story and learn first hand how his mother, Norma, and her lover damaged Norman, helping forge the most well-known serial killing motel owner in history."
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