Vera Farmiga to Star Opposite Robert Downey Jr. in Warner Bros.' 'The Judge' (Exclusive)

Vera Farmiga, hot off her debut in A&E’s Bates Motel, has been cast as the female lead opposite Robert Downey Jr. in The Judge, the Warner Bros. dramedy that David Dobkin is directing.

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Downey stars as a successful attorney who returns to his hometown for his mother's funeral to discover that his estranged father (Robert Duvall), the town's judge, is suspected of murder. The man sets out to discover the truth, and along the way, reconnects with the family he walked away from years before.

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Farmiga will play a waitress in the hometown who never left the small-town life and who has a history with Downey’s character.

Judge is a co-production between Team Downey and Big Kid Pictures. A Boston shoot beginning in June is being eyed.

Farmiga, who was nominated for an Oscar for her work in 2009’s Up in the Air, is receiving raves for her performance as Norman Bates’ mother in Bates Motel. The show premiered Monday, grabbing 3 million viewers and becoming A&E’s highest rated premiere with the coveted adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 demos.

The actress, repped by CAA, Authentic Talent and Peikoff Mahan, will next be seen starring in New Line’s horror thriller The Conjuring, which opens July 19.