Oh how the children have grown. Former child star Freddie Highmore has landed the coveted role of Norman Bates in Bates Motel. The series serves as a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock's famous thriller, Psycho.
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Bates Motel will reveal how dysfunctional Norman's family really was. The show was originally developed as a miniseries, but then transformed into a 10-episode series. It's written and produced by Lost's Carlton Cuse and Parenthood's Kerry Ehrin.
Highmore is best known for his roles opposite Johnny Depp in Finding Neverland, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He also played Kerry Russell's and Jonathan Rhys Meyers' son in 2007's August Rush. The now 20-year-old will tackle the role made famous by the late Anthony Perkins.
The actor will be joined by Academy Award nominee Vera Farmiga , who'll play his mother Norma Louise Bates, and Max Thieriot who stars as his brother Dylan. We already have an idea of how Norman should act, but Cuse told TV Guide, he "might not be what fans expect." They weren't "looking for someone to imitate Perkins."
Official synopsis:
Bates Motel gives 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 backstory and learn first hand[sic] how his mother, Norma, and her love damaged Norman helped forge the most well-known serial killing motel owner in history.
Production on Bates Motel is scheduled to begin next month. The show will debut in 2013.