The singer will be checking in at Bates Motel as Marion Crane, who will eventually get involved with Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore). Actress Janet Leigh first played the iconic character in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 film Psycho.
Executive producers Carlton Cuse and Kerry Ehrin have revealed that viewers will see a different Marion Crane in the TV adaptation. Cuse said Rihanna will be playing an entirely different character than herself or her persona. This means the Marion Crane people had watched in the film is not the same woman viewers will see in Bates Motel season 5.
“She’s a more contemporary woman trying to handle her own life and get what she wants and when things happen that she doesn’t understand, she tries to figure them out. She’s edgier and sassier and less of an emotional victim.”
The showrunner added Batel Motel fifth and final season will pay homage to the Psycho movie. However, Cuse said season 5 will not be entirely committed to every detail of the 60’s movie. Cuse told USA Today:
“We traverse back and forth through some of the mythology, so people who know the movie will be entertained.”
In the movie, Marion is on the run with an envelope of stolen money when she makes a stop at a motel managed by Norman. The motel owner will eventually stab Marion to death in the infamous shower scene.
Meanwhile, the EPs also praised Rihanna’s work ethics and performance in the series. Cuse said they are excited for the viewers to see how good Rihanna is an actress.
Rihanna earlier admitted in a previous interview that she is a fan of Bates Motel. This opened up the doors for the producers to offer the role of Marion Crane to her. Cuse told The Hollywood Reporter that they pitched the idea to the singer and Rihanna was very responsive in it.
In the end, the Umbrella hitmaker accepted the role. She agreed to suspend her world tour for a week to film the two episodes.
Marion Crane will appear in a two-part episode – the Dreams Die First this week and Marion next week. Bates Motel star Nestor Carbonell (Sheriff Romero) and Philip Abraham direct the episodes, respectively.
Bates Motel season 5 airs every Monday at 10 p.m. in A&E. Dreams Die First airs on March 20, while Marion is scheduled for March 27 airing.