Austin Butler will play Patrick Bateman in a new adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho, Variety reports.
Ellis’ novel, published by Vintage in 1991, is a satirical novel that follows Bateman, a New York investment banker who is also a serial killer.
The book was enormously controversial upon its release because of its long and gory description of Bateman’s murders, and it was savaged by critics. In the New York Times, Roger Rosenblatt wrote, “So pointless, so themeless, so everythingless is this novel, except in stupefying details about expensive clothing, food and bath products, that were it not the most loathsome offering of the season, it certainly would be the funniest.”
It was adapted into a 2000 film directed by Mary Harron and starring Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, and Josh Lucas; the movie was praised by critics, and is now considered a cult classic.
The new adaptation will be directed by Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name, Challengers) and written for the screen by Scott Z. Burns (The Bourne Ultimatum, Contagion). Butler, known for his roles in films including Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Elvis, and Dune: Part Two, is so far the only cast member to be announced.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
