Our stay at the Bates Motel has just been extended for two more seasons, so remember to close the curtains when you take a shower! A&E made a bold move today in renewing the series through Season 5, which though not explicitly stated as being the show’s last, is fairly likely. A&E has tried (and failed) to launch other dark dramas like the almost immediately cancelled Those Who Kill, and the one-season wonder The Returned. And while Bates Motel has been operating at a ratings loss since its premiere, the network seems confident in creator and producer Carlton Cuse, and his vision for the series.

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Image via A&E

Bates Motel has somehow, wonderfully, found a way to really draw out the tension of Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) turning into the killer Norman we know from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. (For example, hardly anything of real consequence happened in Season 3, yet it may have been the series' best season yet). Even more captivating, though, has been Vera Farmiga’s performance as Norma Bates, which has helped A&E score some critical appreciation and awards recognition.

At the same time, ratings are ratings, and The Returned could not hold on to even Bates’ numbers. The American remake of the French series (the American version was also a Cuse production) actually found a way to — if not improve upon — to at least find a truly new way to tell the French series’ story, and was shaping up to even potentially create a better mythology for its mysteries. But as THR reports, A&E has officially cancelled the series, and has in its placed picked up the Omen’s TV sequel Damian, from The Walking Dead’s Glen Mazzara (which was originally slated for Lifetime), as well as Unforgettable, from CBS. Gone too soon!

Check out the full press release from A&E below regarding the Bates pickup, which is for 20 episodes spanning over 2 seasons. The series will resume production this year for a 2016 return. As for The Returned, fans should check out the French series on Netflix if you haven’t already, and that original version is getting a Season 2.

NEW YORK, NY – June 15, 2015 – A&E Network has ordered twenty episodes of the acclaimed drama series, “Bates Motel” from Universal Television it was announced today by Rob Sharenow, Executive Vice President and General Manager, A&E and Lifetime.

“The vision of our incredible creative team has exposed the steady breakdown of the relationship between Norman and Norma Bates,” said Sharenow.  “We are thrilled to bring fans two more seasons to witness the next stages of Norman's transformation into the most notorious psychopath in cinematic history.”

New episodes of “Bates Motel” will begin production later this year and will air over two seasons, starting in 2016.

 

“Bates Motel” has garnered a truly loyal fan base over the past three seasons. Vera Farmiga (Up In The Air, The Conjuring) in her Emmy-nominated role as Norma Bates, and Freddie Highmore (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) as Norman star alongside Max Thieriot (Disconnect, “Texas Rising”), Olivia Cooke (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) and Nestor Carbonell (“Lost,” The Dark Knight Rises).

The 2015 Critics’ Choice Television Awards just recently nominated Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore for Best Actress and Actor in a Drama Series.

“Bates Motel” serves as a contemporary prequel to the genre-defining film Psycho and provides viewers with an intimate portrayal of how Norman Bates unravels through his teenage years.

“Bates Motel” is produced by Universal Television for A&E Network. Kerry Ehrin and Carlton Cuse serve as executive producers for Carlton Cuse Productions and Kerry Ehrin Productions.

About A&E Network Now reaching more than 96 million homes, A&E is the home to quality original content that inspires and challenges audiences to BE ORIGINAL.  A&E offers a diverse mix of uniquely immersive entertainment ranging from the network’s original scripted series, including “Bates Motel” and “The Returned” to signature non-fiction franchises, including “Duck Dynasty,” “Wahlburgers” and “Storage Wars.”  The A&E website is located at aetv.com.  Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/aetv and Facebook at facebook.com/AETV.  For more press information and photography please visit us at press.aenetworks.com.

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Image via A&E