Entertainer Rihanna's starring role in the fifth and final season of A&E’s Bates Motel series was one of several news stories from cable networks emanating from the second day of the Comic Con International convention in San Diego.
Bates Motel, a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960's classic film Psycho , will launch its final season in 2017. Rihanna will portray the role originated by Janet Leigh in the film, the network said during its Comic Con presentation.
"We wanted to thrust the iconic role into a contemporary spotlight and redefine it in a meaningful and exciting new way,” said Bates Motel executive producers Carlton Cuse and Kerry Ehrin. “We also heard Rihanna was a fan of the show, and we were huge fans of hers, so it was the perfect collision of creativity and fate."
Other news from day two of Comic Con included AMC’s announcement that The Walking Dead will return for its seventh season on Oct. 23. AMC also announced an Aug. 14 special The Walking Dead Season 7 Preview Special which will give fans an early look at what to expect in the upcoming season, and an Oct. 16 two-hour The Walking Dead Recap Special, recapping the first six seasons of the series.
Several networks also released video trailers for new and returning series and specials, including History, which released a sneak peek video from the season four of its drama series Vikings
Starz released a trailer for its new American Gods series
BBC America showcased a video recapping the first four seasons of its hit series Orphan Black
Saturday's lineup includes presentations for HBO’s Vice Principals, Syfy’s The Expanse and The Magicians, BBC America’s Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, and Starz’s Ash vs Evil Dead,
