Hannibal Lecter and Norman Bates come to T.V.

Their stories may have run their course on the big screen, but two cinematic icons are going to get a new lease of life, when Hannibal Lecter and Norman Bates make the transisition to T.V. with Hannibal and Bates Motel.

Bates Motel takes it's bow on March 18th, updating the story of Psycho to present day, focusing on Norman's childhood growing up with his mother, and chronicling what happened to make him put on her dresses and kill people. Starring Freddie Highmore and Vera Farminga as the Family Bates, this series promises a new take on the classic story.

Premiering on April 4th, Hannibal is pretty self explanatory, focusing on Dr. Hannibal Lecter's (with Mads Mikkelsson being the perfect choice to take the role from Anthony Hopkins) days of freedom, when he was able to chow down on people when he pleased. This is one I am quite looking forward to, not just because I love the character, but also because it comes from Bryan Fuller, creator of the cancelled far too soon masterpieces that are Dead Like Me, Wonderfalls, and Pushing Daisies. The series will take the form of a police procedural with Lecter being consulted by FBI profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) on a series of cases, and will focus on their budding relationship. Fuller has said that if the show runs for a number of seasons, they will feature events from the movies, with Red Dragon forming the basis of Season 3, and Silence Of The Lambs being recreated for Season 5.