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Top 5 Villains Deserving a ‘Bates Motel’ Style Reboot

It’s been awhile since the “Halloween” and “Hannibal Rising” reboots turned the word into a pejorative. Now, with the successful “Planet of the Apes” franchise, NBC’s “Hannibal” and A&E’s “Bates Motel” the term comes with more intriguing possibilities.

“Bates Motel” returns for its third season March 9. To honor the fresh look at Norman Bates and his controlling mama let’s consider other movie villains who could stand a TV reboot, too.

  • The Wolf Man: Yes, we already have a teen wolf, and the Benicio del Toro “Wolfman” feature left us all unsatisfied. Still, the basic story remains compelling – a tortured soul trying to reclaim his humanity despite his nighttime rituals.
  • Scarface: How is this not already in the works? The 1983 Al Pacino film inspired as much merch as your average “Star Wars” installment. And let’s not forget the quotable lines and ultra-violence. It’s a natural to revisit Scarface’s rise to the top in a serialized form. Think “The Sopranos” transported to sunny Miami.
  • Leatherface: We’ve had enough “Texas Chainsaw Movies” for one generation, thank you. That shouldn’t stop a savvy storyteller from digging into the mythology behind the franchise. At its core is a killing machine unlike any other. But his ghoulish family could be worth further investigation. The focus would be on the chilling dysfunction, not the casual bloodshed. Perhaps there’s a glimmer of humanity in the bunch, a sister or cousin trying to stop the clan from its wicked ways?
  • Principal Edward R. Rooney: Ferris Bueller smited him again … and again in John Hughes’ 1986 comedy classic. Why not tell a new story, but this time through the principal’s squinty eyes? He’s a villain on the surface, but a peek at his home life might offer some perspective on his fun-stomping ways. We might even feel sorry for the lug.
  • Alex DeLarge: “A Clockwork Orange’s” main character found his violent ways subdued, somewhat, in the film’s unforgettable finale. What next? Could Alex be transported to 21st century America as a commentary on our current culture? Would he be an outcast, or would he fit right in?

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