More than two decades after Christian Bale sliced his way into pop culture as Patrick Bateman, American Psycho is sharpening its axe for a modern retelling. With Luca Guadagnino set to direct, casting speculation has exploded—and not without controversy. While Elvis star Austin Butler was reportedly the frontrunner, things may not be so cut and dry.
Veteran casting director Kerry Barden, who worked on the original film, weighed in with a surprising take. “I would cast Austin in [Jared Leto’s] role because he’s that beautiful,” Barden told The Hollywood Reporter. “Jared is certainly a great actor as well, and obviously, Austin has a lot of depth as an actor, too. But not every person has that kind of beauty.” Translation? Butler may be too pretty to play a killer yuppie with a closet full of business cards and body parts.
Meanwhile, a new contender has entered the ring one with a famous surname. Patrick Schwarzenegger, who made waves in The White Lotus and Gen V, has publicly expressed his desire to play Bateman. After a fan posted “Patrick Schwarzenegger, I’ve found your breakout role,” he coolly replied, “I’d love nothing more ;)”. Not his first bid either—he previously tweeted “My dream” when the project was announced last fall.
With casting still undecided, fans have taken it upon themselves to dream up their perfect Bateman. Names floating around the fandom include Robert Pattinson, Timothée Chalamet, Glen Powell, and Euphoria’s Jacob Elordi. Each suggestion comes with its own flavor, but all face one enormous hurdle—Christian Bale’s legacy in the role remains untouchable to many.
That’s a sentiment echoed by American Psycho co-star Matt Ross. “On one hand, I am always sad about remakes,” Ross said. “It always feels like just mercenary capitalism and nothing else… They have their work cut out for them, for no other reason than Christian’s performance is exceptional.” Guadagnino’s involvement does offer a glimmer of hope for those wary of remakes. Known for his visually rich and psychologically layered storytelling—most notably in his reimagining of Suspiria—he’s no stranger to controversial reinterpretations.
If anyone can tap into the blurred lines between reality and delusion that define American Psycho, it’s him. Still, with fan expectations sky-high and the shadow of Bale’s performance looming large, this remake is shaping up to be as much a character study in risk-taking as it is in sociopathy. There’s no confirmed release date yet, but one thing is certain: stepping into Patrick Bateman’s $1000 shoes is no small feat.
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