VERA FARMIGA AND FREDDIE HIGHMORE CHECK BACK INTO A&E'S 'BATES MOTEL' FOR THE FIFTH AND FINAL SEASON PREMIERING MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20 AT 10PM ET/PT

EIGHT-TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNER RIHANNA PUTS A CONTEMPORARY SPIN ON THE REIMAGINED ICONIC ROLE OF MARION CRANE

NEW YORK, NY - January 9, 2017 - The haunting fifth and final season of the critically acclaimed drama, "Bates Motel," from writers and executive producers Kerry Ehrin ("Friday Night Lights," "Parenthood") and Carlton Cuse ("Lost, "The Strain") will premiere on Monday, February 20 at 10PM ET/PT on A&E. Fan favorite and Emmy-nominated actress Vera Farmiga returns for double duty as executive producer while also reprising her role as 'Mother' who is very much alive and well but only in the twisted, complicated mind of 'Norman Bates' played by Freddie Highmore. In addition, eight-time Grammy Award winner and series super fan Rihanna checks in to play the role of 'Marion Crane,' putting a newly reimagined and contemporary spin on the iconic character.

This contemporary prequel to the genre-defining film Psycho has provided fans with an intimate look into the unraveling of Norman Bates' psyche throughout his teenage years. Fans watched as Norman's dangerous transformation came full circle when he methodically murdered his beloved mother, Norma, in the final gut-wrenching episodes of season four. Season five of "Bates Motel" picks up almost two years later and finds Norman (Freddie Highmore), a grown man now, living a double life. Publicly he's a happy and well-adjusted member of the White Pine Bay community, but at home Norman struggles; his violent blackouts continue to increase as 'Mother' (Vera Farmiga) threatens to take over his mind completely. Meanwhile, Dylan Massett (Max Thierot) and Emma Decody (Olivia Cooke), since leaving White Pine Bay, have been living their lives blissfully unaware of Norma's death and Norman's full on descent into psychosis. Unfortunately, for them, they will soon find themselves drawn back into Norman's insanity, while a vengeful Alex Romero (Nestor Carbonell), who is currently incarcerated for a perjury, hungers for a chance to destroy his stepson and avenge the murder of his one true love, Norma Bates.

New faces find their way to the Bates Motel this season to further complicate Norman's life and threaten to unearth his dark secrets. Viewers will finally meet the iconic Marion Crane played by Rihanna. In addition, a new couple in town, Madeleine Loomis, played by Isabelle McNally ("House of Cards") and her husband Sam Loomis, played by Austin Nichols ("The Walking Dead," "Ray Donovan"), as well as Sheriff Dana Greene, played by Brooke Smith ("Grey's Anatomy," "Ray Donovan") become entangled in Norman's life causing a chain of events that could blow the lid off Norman's secret life. Lastly, fans will be greeted by familiar faces when Caleb Calhoun (Kenny Johnson) and Chick Hogan (Ryan Hurst) return with agendas of their own.

"Bates Motel" is produced by Universal Television for A&E Network. Kerry Ehrin and Carlton Cuse serve as executive producers for Cuse Productions and Kerry Ehrin Productions. Tucker Gates, Vera Farmiga and Tom Szentgyorgyi also serve as executive producers on the series.

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