I was thinking the same thing about Psycho IV. I remember that being a supremely uncomfortable film when I was a kid. Some of those sequels (II and IV, mostly) were actually pretty decent. I guess it could be interesting, but I'm not really sure I can picture anyone besides Anthony Perkins.
It sure did and it had Anthony Perkins in it too bookending the beginning and end. I agree with others that the sequels were pretty decent films. I remember been shocked at surprised flicking around television one night and seeing Psycho II and then shocked again to see Psycho 3 and IV! A prequel series. How can they stretch out the idea into a series. Doesn't appeal to me much like that remake.
They already made a pilot in 1987 for "Bates Motel" but it was set after the movies. I don't remember it being very good. If anyone wants to see it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJsjIjguG9M&feature=related
We might have duelling serial killers next season, because there's also supposed to be a Hannibal Lecter prequel series in the works as well. Do I smell crossover? Or maybe that's just what's in the basement...
This is yet another case of Hollywood missing the point and attempting to reinvent a character who was defined by his actor and nothing else. Yes, Hitchcock set the scene with a classic movie. But the character lived and breathed because of Anthony Perkins. Unless they've found a way to clone Perkins or bring him back from the dead, this strikes me as a useless exercise and simply a way for A&E to cash in on Dexter. Alex
Interestingly the author of the original novel, Robert Bloch, wrote two sequels that were completely unrelated to the sequel movies. So there's an enormous amount of Psycho-related material out there, pretty much none of which (IMO) is anywhere near the quality of the original Hitchcock film. IIRC Hitchcock intended Psycho as a quick, low-budget B film to satisfy the studio after the disappointing performance of Vertigo, which he considered his artistic masterpiece. And Psycho turned out to be the movie he is best known for, and in many ways influenced modern cinema more than any of his other works.
Vera Farmiga has been cast in the lead, as Norma Bates. Well, that's a good sign anyway. And if they want to do flashbacks to her as a young woman, they can cast Vera's look-alike, much younger sister Taissa.
With all due respect to Hitchcock and Perkins, it's worth pointing out once again that Norman Bates was created by Robert Bloch, who almost never gets the credit he deserves. It's always appalled me how often Bloch gets ignored or dismissed when the topic of PSYCHO comes up . . . .