Regardless of how well received any prequel is to be, there's no arguing that near everything depends on the strength of casting its most iconic character.  So while we've been keeping a fettered eye on development of A&E's Carlton Cuse-produced 'Psycho' prequel TV series 'Bates Motel,' the ultimate casting officially has our interest.  Young British star Freddie Highmore will take the role of the iconic Norman Bates, but is he 'Psycho' enough for the part?

Are you ready to meet little Norman Bates?  TVGuide reports that A&E has ended its "exhaustive" search to find a youth capable of portraying its young 'Psycho' killer, landing on British actor Freddie Highmore.  Though Highmore himself is hardly a youth at 20, moviegoers would likely recognize him from either of his two roles opposite Johnny Depp, 'Finding Neverland' in 2004, and 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' in 2005.

Developed by ‘LOST’s Carlton Cuse, ‘Bates Motel’ marks Carlton Cuse’s first genre TV project since ‘LOST’ ended in 2010.  ‘Friday Night Lights’ writer Kerry Ehrin will also join as a writer/EP working with Cuse. ‘Bates Motel’ takes a sort 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 (Vera Farmiga) and her lover drove him mad, eventually turning him the killer we know from Hitchcock’s film.

What say you?  Does Freddie Highmore seem 'Psycho' enough' for 'Bates Motel?'  Are you interested in exploring the character's backstory through the prequel series?  Give us your thoughts in the comments!

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