Austin Butler Eyed to Play Patrick Bateman in Luca Guadagnino’s New American Psycho Movie
Austin Butler is being eyed to play serial killer Patrick Bateman in Luca Guadagnino’s American Psycho movie, a "new adaptation" of Bret Easton Ellis' 1991 novel.
Update, December 11, 1:35 p.m.: Following the publication of this story, IGN learned from a source close to the production that Austin Butler has not yet closed a deal to play Patrick Bateman in the new film. While it's true he is being eyed for the project, nothing is set in stone quite yet.
Previous story as follows:
We may be closer to finding out who will be our Patrick Bateman.
Variety reported on Wednesday that Austin Butler will star in Luca Guadagnino’s new American Psycho movie as the investment banker with a double life as a serial killer. IGN, however, has learned that Butler is merely being eyed for the role and a deal has not yet closed. As the Variety report points out, Euphoria and Saltburn star Jacob Elordi had been previously rumored for the role, although that didn't work out.
We first officially learned that a new American Psycho is in the works at Lionsgate back in October. Despite the obvious association with the 2000 film starring Christian Bale, Lionsgate said at the time that this project wouldn't be a remake of that movie, but rather a "new adaptation" of Bret Easton Ellis' 1991 novel. Scott Z. Burns wrote the script.
If the deal goes through, it'll continue something of a hot streak for Butler. He rose to worldwide prominence in 2022 for his portrayal of Elvis in Baz Luhrmann's Elvis, earning him a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination. He followed that up with Jeff Nichols' The Bikeriders and a role in Dune: Part II as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen — so, basically, he's going from one psycho killer to another here.
As for Guadagnino, he remains one of the more in-demand directors in Hollywood today. He gained international recognition for Call Me By Your Name in 2017, followed by the likes of 2018's Suspiria remake, 2022 romance horror Bones and All, this past summer's Challengers, and the recently released A24 drama Queer. He's also in talks to take on James Gunn's DCU with a Sgt. Rock movie that could star Daniel Craig.
More details on this new American Psycho, including a release window, are still pending. For more on Butler in the meantime, read our interview with him and co-star Jodie Comer about The Bikeriders.
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
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