Ralph Macchio is checking into the Bates Motel.
The former (and forever) "Karate Kid" himself will be polishing his writing skills (via a little wax-on, wax-off?) as he signs on to play Joseph Stefano in "Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of 'Psycho,'" according to Deadline.
The film (which IMDB has listed simply as "Hitchcock") chronicles the making of The Master's classic horror flick that ended up being one of the most influential genre films of all time — despite the fact that no studio wanted to touch the material at the time.
Joseph Stefano, an inexperienced Hollywood screenwriter with only one credit under his belt, was hired by Hitchcock (played by Anthony Hopkins in the film) to rework longtime "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" staff writer James Cavanaugh's reportedly "very dull" adaptation of Robert Bloch's novel, which was inspired by the crimes of Wisconsin murderer and grave robber Ed Gein (played by Michael Wincott). Stefano dropped the screenplay's more lurid aspects of antagonist Norman Bates (such as his alcoholism and interest in the occult and pornography) and made him a more, well, "normal" person — and therefore a much more frightening villain.
Macchio joins a super-fun cast that includes James D'Arcy ("Psycho" star Anthony Perkins, doomed to forever be typecast forthwith), Scarlett Johansson ("Psycho" star and shower girl Janet Leigh), Jessica Biel ("Psycho" star Vera Miles), Toni Collette (Hitchcock's production assistant Peggy Robertson) and Helen Mirren (Hitchcock's wife Alma Reville).
How cool is it that Daniel-San is in a new movie … and one as cool as this one? We can't wait to see him show off his grown-up actor chops — and we're certainly open to a scene featuring him karate-chopping something in half, should that ever be appropriate.
"Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of 'Psycho'" (or perhaps just "Hitchcock") has just commenced with production under the direction of Sacha Gervasi.
