Austin Butler To Star in Luca Guadagnino’s Bold Take on ‘American Psycho’

Butler is set to bring a fresh and distinct interpretation of Patrick Bateman under the Italian director’s unique vision, following closer to Bret Easton Ellis’ original story.

Fez – Austin Butler, known for his Oscar-nominated performance in “Elvis”, has been confirmed as the lead in the upcoming adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’s iconic “American Psycho”.

Rumors had circulated that “Euphoria” star Jacob Elordi might take the role, but Variety reports that Butler will be the one to portray Patrick Bateman, a narcissistic investment banker and serial killer.

The up-and-coming project will be directed by Luca Guadagnino, acclaimed for films like “Call Me by Your Name” and this year’s tennis drama “Challengers.”

Guadagnino vision for the film will reportedly reimagine Ellis’s novel rather than remake Mary Harron’s 2000 film adaptation, which starred Christian Bale. The new script comes from Scott Z Burns, known for his work on Steven Soderbergh’s “Contagion and Side Effects”.

The role of Patrick Bateman has a storied history, with Bale’s iconic turn in the 2000 film and Matt Smith’s portrayal in a stage musical version. Guadagnino’s fresh take is expected to explore the themes of materialism and violence in new ways.

The Italian movie director is currently promoting “Queer”, his adaptation of William S. Burroughs’s novella starring Daniel Craig. Next year, he is taking the director chair for the college-set thriller “After the Hunt”, featuring Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield, as well as an adaptation of Pier Vittorio Tondelli’s “Separate Rooms”, with Josh O’Connor and Lea Seydoux.

Butler has had a busy year, appearing in “Dune: Part Two” and “The Bikeriders”. His upcoming projects include Ari Aster’s comedy-western “Eddington”, alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone, and Darren Aronofsky’s crime thriller “Caught Stealing”, co-starring Zoë Kravitz. He is also rumored to be involved in Michael Mann’s sequel to “Heat”.

With Guadagnino at the helm and Butler in the lead, this version of “American Psycho” offers a bold new vision of Ellis’s controversial novel.