Rihanna has been tapped to play the iconic role of Marion Crane, formerly played by Janet Leigh , in the fifth and final season of A&E’s hit drama series “ Bates Motel .” The highly anticipated casting announcement was made during the season five panel at San Diego Comic-Con. Creators and executive producers Kerry Ehrin and Carlton Cuse were on hand with cast Vera Farmiga (“Norma”), Freddie Highmore (“Norman”), Max Thieriot (“Dylan Massett”) and Nestor Carbonell (“Sheriff Alex Romero”) to celebrate the casting, the series and speak to the final season. "We wanted to thrust the iconic role into a contemporary spotlight and redefine it in a meaningful and exciting new way. 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," said executive producers Carlton Cuse and Kerry Ehrin. Additional announcements included: Vera Farmiga to executive produce and return in her Emmy-nominated