The official premiere date for ‘Bates Motel’ season four has been set as the contemporary ‘Psycho’ prequel will make a comeback on Monday, March 7, at 9 pm on A&E.
The upcoming season will be comprised of 10 episodes and will follow the struggles of Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) relating to his identity. His mother, Norma (Vera Farmiga), continues to become worried of his medical condition and attempts to seek professional help.
It was previously teased by series executive producer Carlton Cuse that viewers can expect Norman to become more similar to his counterpart in the 1960’s movie, ‘Psycho,' by Alfred Hitchcock when ‘Bates Motel’ returns in March.
"For the first three seasons of the show, we have watched in a slow, progressive way his development of becoming the guy he is going to become,” Cuse said.
The executive producer explained about the beginning of the show and highlighted how Norman has grown, from being a troubled teenager with blackouts and identity issues to becoming a much more “different” person.
“At the end of the third season of the show, he really becomes unhinged in a different way he had before,” Cuse added. “That really sets up a different version of the Norman that we know from the movie."
As Highmore’s character sets out to do even more unexpected things, Cuse said that this transition should be exciting to watch. He added that viewers of ‘Bates Motel’ season four should look forward to Norman being finally “unleashed.”
"[Norman] is going to be driving the story. He's going to be doing some surprising things," he said.
Meanwhile, new cast members have signed on to the fourth season including Jaime Ray Newman, who will play Rebecca Hamilton, to be also introduced as Sheriff Alex Romero’s (Nestor Carbonell) former flame who remains in love with him.
‘Empire’ actor Damon Gupton will also have a recurring role in the latest season as Dr. Gregg Edwards, the resident doctor at Pineview Mental Institution.
Dr. Edwards is described as a medical practitioner who "walks a fine line between professional curiosity and personal investment in his patients' lives." It has also been speculated that Gupton’s character could be a potential love interest for Norma.
Ryan Hurst will also make a comeback as Chick, the gun and drug dealer who encountered issues with Caleb (Kenny Johnson) and Dylan (Max Thieriot).