The New โ€˜American Psychoโ€™ Has Found Its Patrick Bateman
โ€” 12 December 2024

The New โ€˜American Psychoโ€™ Has Found Its Patrick Bateman

โ€” 12 December 2024
Garry Lu
WORDS BY
Garry Lu
  • Austin Butler has officially been tapped for the role of Patrick Bateman in Luca Guadagninoโ€™s American Psycho.
  • This adaptation of the iconic Bret Easton Ellis novel has been written by Scott Z. Burns (The Bourne UltimatumContagionThe Report).
  • The original American Psycho (2000) starring Christian Bale was directed by Mary Harron, the latter of whom penned the screenplay alongside co-writer Guinevere Turner.

Luca Guadagninoโ€™s interpretation of American Psycho has found its Patrick Bateman in Austin Butler.

Industry rumours had previously suggested the Elvis star was competing against Australiaโ€™s own Jacob Elordi for the top job who, incidentally, also portrayed the King of Rock & Roll in Sofia Coppolaโ€™s Priscilla.

RELATED: โ€˜American Psychoโ€™ Cast Thought Christian Bale Was โ€œThe Worst Actor Theyโ€™d Ever Seenโ€

We shudder to imagine the depths of method acting Austin Butler will plunge for his performance as the murderous (and narcissistic) investment banker. But aside from Guadagninoโ€™s disgraced Call Me By Your Name leading man Armie Hammer, we also cannot think of a more compelling candidate.

As alluded to earlier, the forthcoming adaptation of the iconic Bret Easton Ellis novel wonโ€™t be a remake, but an entirely new take written by Scott Z. Burns (The Bourne UltimatumContagionThe Report).

Itโ€™s set to be produced by Sam Pressman, son of original film producer Edward R. Pressman, through Pressman Film. Further casting details and a release date for American Psycho starring Austin Butler have yet to be revealed.

In the background of all this, Butler is also in talks for another juicy legacy role with Michael Mannโ€™s Heat 2; which the legendary director has indicated will be his next project.

For months, the internet has been buzzing with the prospect of him taking over from Val Kilmer as Chris Shiherlis. And it took on a whole new dimension when footage of the Dune: Part Two villain undertaking heavy-duty firearm training with Taran Tactical surfaced.

RELATED: Patrick Bateman Actually Wore A Seiko (Not Rolex) In โ€˜American Psychoโ€™

โ€œI canโ€™t tell you anything about that,โ€ Austin Butler told BH during the Sydney premiere of Bikeriders, before relenting when the line of questioning shifted to a more โ€œhypotheticalโ€ nature.

โ€œWhat I can say is this: I adore the first film and Iโ€™m a huge fan of Michael Mannโ€ฆ Also the novel. Have you read the novel? Itโ€™s very good.โ€

Butler has recently wrapped on A24 neo-western black comedy Eddington directed by Ari Aster, which also stars Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, as well as Yellowstone alum Luke Grimes; and has begun shooting Darren Aronofskyโ€™s crime thriller Caught Stealing.

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Garry Lu
WORDS by
After stretching his legs with companies such as The Motley Fool and the odd marketing agency, Garry joined Boss Hunting in 2019 as a fully-fledged Content Specialist. In 2021, he was promoted to News Editor. Garry proudly retains a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, black bruises from Muay Thai, as well as a black belt in all things pop culture. Drop him a line at [email protected]

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