Mother knows best: Vera Farmiga to play Mrs. Bates in “Bates Motel”

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

This is just great casting, and it elevates my interest in an otherwise “who cares?” kind of show by a large amount: Oscar-nominee Vera Farmiga has been set to play Mrs. Bates in A&E’s “Bates Motel”.

Farmiga is best known to horror fans as the mom of some rather precocious hellions in ORPHAN and JOSHUA. She received her Oscar nod for Jason Reitman’s UP IN THE AIR in 2009, and has shined in flicks like THE DEPARTED, SOURCE CODE and RUNNING SCARED.

“Bates Motel”, which was given a ten episode order from the network a few months ago, 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 backstory 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.

The Hollywood Reporter describes Norma Louise Bates as a complicated, passionate and compelling woman who is smart, multidimensional and always capable of surprising people.

No doubt about it.

“We are delighted to welcome Vera Farmiga to Bates Motel,” showrunner Carlton Cuse said. “She 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.”

It obviously remains to be seen how effective a PSYCHO prequel-as-TV-show can be. After all, like all other prequels, it suffers from the obvious problem that we all know how it will end. I suppose A&E could always reinvent things, but… no, they wouldn’t dare.