While A&E's brand of original programming continues to grow after the success of 'Longmire,' one series we're particularly excited to check out is that of 'Bates Motel,' a prequel series to Alfred Hitchcock's famous film 'Psycho' that follows a young Norman Bates living with his mother.  We've heard some pretty cool castings from the series, including Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga as the titular Bates family, but how would you like a first look at a young 'Psycho' killer in action?  Check out the first photo of the new Norman Bates!

'Psycho' fans, are you ready to meet a young Norman Bates?  Entertainment Weekly has obtained the first photo from A&E's upcoming prequel series 'Bates Motel,' featuring 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' star as a young incarnation of the famed cinematic killer, with Vera Farmiga as his mother Norma Bates.

Developed by ‘LOST‘s’ Carlton Cuse, ‘Bates Motel’ takes a kind of ‘Twin Peaks’ meets ‘Smallville’ approach to telling the back-story of Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho’ killer Norman Bates, focusing on the killer’s days as a boy and how his life with his deranged mother and her lover drove him mad, eventually turning him the killer we know from Hitchcock’s film.  ‘LOST’s’ Nestor Carbonell will also take part in the series as a less-than-savory sheriff, along with 'The Last Airbender's Nicola Peltz, actress Olivia Cooke, 'The Killing' star Richard Harmon, and Max Thierot.

You can check out the first look at 'Bates Motel' below, debuting in 2013, and tell us what you think in the comments!

Bates Motel Freddie Highmore Norman Bates
A&E / Entertainment Weekly
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