Washington [US], December 12 : Actor Austin Butler is set to take on one of cinema’s most iconic roles, portraying Patrick Bateman in a new adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ controversial 1991 novel American Psycho. Known for his role as Elvis Presley in Elvis and his upcoming appearance in Dune: Part Two, Butler steps into the shoes of the charming yet deadly Wall Street professional-turned-serial killer, a role made famous by Christian Bale in the 2000 film directed by Mary Harron.
This new adaptation, helmed by Luca Guadagnino, isn’t a remake of the 2000 film but offers a fresh take on Ellis’ novel. The project, slated for release by Lionsgate, promises to delve into the psychological complexity of Bateman’s character—a wealthy, well-dressed New York investment banker who conceals a violent, dark secret.
In the original American Psycho, Bale’s portrayal of Bateman became legendary, balancing the character’s superficial, materialistic persona with his chilling, deranged acts of violence. Set in 1987, the film explored Bateman’s high-society life while revealing the brutal actions he secretly indulged in.
Bale, reflecting on the film, once recalled a funny anecdote about his wife’s grandmother’s reaction to the film. “When I first got married, her grandma said, ‘So he’s an actor?’ ‘Yeah,’ she says. ‘Has he done anything? ‘Yeah, he did a film, it’s called American Psycho,'” Bale shared, recalling the awkward realization of how inappropriate much of the film was for the grandmother.
For the 20th anniversary of American Psycho, director Mary Harron, Ellis, and Bale discussed the casting of the iconic role. Harron admitted that she had considered Leonardo DiCaprio for the role but ultimately felt Christian Bale was a better fit, given DiCaprio’s global fame from Titanic, which could have detracted from the character’s disturbing nature.
Now, Austin Butler will offer his own interpretation of Bateman, bringing a new dimension to the character while retaining the dark satire and psychological tension that defines Ellis’ novel.