Vera Farmiga confirms that her character Norma Bates will return with full-blown lunacy in "Bates Motel" season 5.
The actress told Zap2it during the 2016 San Diego Comic Con that despite Norma's death at the end of season 4, Norman's (Freddie Highmore) overprotective mother will still appear in fresh episodes next season.
But Farmiga revealed that she told the show's producers that she does not want her character's involvement in the crazy things that will happen in the upcoming season to be limited.
"I think it's going to continue being a playground. That was my biggest fear, she would be minimized," Farmiga stated. "She was so robust, Norma Bates. I had no idea when I signed onto this that I would be singing and dancing and playing piano -- being funny and being absurd. I had no idea that this female characterization embodied all of that."
The actress also revealed that Norma could be a lot crazier in season 5 compared to the previous seasons.
"I think there's going to be more liberties and lunacy, given the fact that she is a figment ... a ghost that he's creating," she said.
Meanwhile, executive producer Carlton Cuse revealed that casting singer Rihanna in the role of Marion Crane had been planned for a long time.
"I read this article in which she said she was a fan of Bates Motel [so] we asked and she said yes," Cuse told Independent. "It was awesome. We're really excited about it. It really feels very much like the version of the character that is different from the movie."
Marion Crane first appeared onscreen in the 1960s film adaptation of Robert Bloch's hit novel "Psycho," directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The character was previously portrayed by Janet Leigh in the original movie while Anne Heche appeared in the remake in 1998.
"Bates Motel" season 5 is expected to premiere on A&E in March 2017.
