Christian Bale‘s portrayal because the fictionalized serial killer Patrick Bateman is such an undisputed masterpiece that it’s now scaring actors away.
The Oscar-winning actor has his justifiable share of enjoying many iconic characters, together with Bruce Wayne/Batman and John Connor, however many audiences will argue that his most career-defining position was Patrick Bateman within the 2000 film American Psycho. Based mostly on Bret Easton Ellis’s controversial 1991 novel, Bale performs the materialistic Wall Avenue banker and yuppie who lives a secret life as a serial killer.
In 2024, it was introduced that Lionsgate was engaged on a brand new American Psycho film from Name Me by Your Title director Luca Guadagnino. Regardless of casting speculations on who’s enjoying Patrick Bateman, there hasn’t been a lot progress since then, and now the creator might have pinpointed the rationale.
Whereas talking on his personal The Bret Easton Ellis podcast, he shared that “A few high-profile actors, whom I can’t identify, have turned it down.” Whereas he can’t verify the basis trigger of those rejections, he believes that Bale’s monumental portrayal might be repelling potential stars:
“I believe possibly as a result of they don’t need to be within the sneakers of Christian Bale.”
Ellis additionally offered an replace that Scott Z. Burns completed the script, contemplating that many actors handed on the final draft. He asserted that “this film is totally completely different from Mary Harron’s 2000 film. It’s a very completely different take, and going to bear no resemblance to that film.”
The creator’s replace helps the report that the remake can be a “new interpretation” from Lionsgate. The movie can be produced by Frenesy Movie, whereas Sam Pressman can be government producer by way of his firm Pressman Movie.
Following the affirmation of a remake, Patrick Batman casting hypothesis ignited instantly with high contenders like Robert Pattinson and Jacob Elordi, however there have been studies that Austin Butler was provided the position in December 2024. Then, in 2025, rumors spiraled that Patrick Bateman could also be gender-swapped and that Margot Robbie was set to star. That rumor was rapidly debunked.
As of writing, nonetheless, no actor has formally signed on to simply accept the duty of enjoying Patrick Bateman, and now Ellis has given perception as to why that might be the case. It is smart provided that Bale put in a whole lot of work to determine the unhinged villain protagonist, which included going full technique as he stayed in character by way of the film’s filming, which even confused American Psycho forged members like Chloë Sevigny.
Regardless of Bale’s excessive appearing preparations, the trouble turned out to be rewarding, as Harron’s adaptation grew to become a cult basic and put the long run Batman on the map. It additionally grew to become a field workplace success, making $34.2 million towards a easy $7 million funds. Though there was an try and construct on the success by making a standalone sequel, American Psycho 2, starring Mila Kunis, it was critically panned and was denounced by Ellis.
It additionally doesn’t assist that the film has discovered a brand new viewers amid the creator’s eye-raising replace. Bale’s portrayal of Patrick Bateman remains to be fashionable 20 years later, turning into the middle of many memes that includes the Oscar winner, whereas Era Z viewers have described him because the epitome of “sigma male.”
Given the fame of Patrick Bateman, it’s now synonymous with Bale’s depiction, which may clarify why many high-profile actors are declining the provide. This might suggest a whole lot of stress to attempt to good the position, because it’s traditionally troublesome to observe up on any esteemed character with out criticism or comparability to the unique. Whereas there have been a number of makes an attempt, reminiscent of Matt Smith within the stage musical and Michael Kremko within the standalone sequel, Bale’s portrayal stays the gold commonplace to at the present time.
It’s value noting that whereas Bale was Harron and Ellis’s best choice to play Patrick Bateman, he didn’t settle for the position till his agent advised him it will finish his profession. As a substitute, he proved these odds mistaken by clearly delivering on the extraordinary, darkish serial killer, and it is nonetheless remembered to at the present time.
Consequently, the brand new interpretation of the so-called unfilmable story stays in limbo till one actor has the heart to simply accept the problem of enjoying an icon. The American Psycho remake at the moment has no additional filming or launch updates.
- Launch Date
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April 14, 2000
- Runtime
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101 minutes
- Director
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Mary Harron
- Writers
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Bret Easton Ellis, Mary Harron, Guinevere Turner