Christian Bale is known for many of his characters, and at the top of his most popular roles is his Patrick Bateman in the 2000 thriller American Psycho with director Mary Harron. Recently, author Bret Easton Ellis, on whose book the 2000 film is based, gave an update about the upcoming reimagining of the cult classic from director Luca Guadagnino.
Ellis said that some "high-profile actors" declined the opportunity to play the psychopathic character in the upcoming film. While Ellis did not name the other actors, he gave a potential reason for their decisions. "I think maybe because they don’t want to be in the shoes of Christian Bale," he revealed through his podcast. Ellis was referring to the tendency of some actors to shy away from downright evil characters, especially one made iconic by a powerful performer such as Christian Bale.
In the 2000 film, Bale plays an investment banker who has violent and psychopathic tendencies, which he keeps hidden from his colleagues even as he goes on a murderous rampage in New York. Bale portrays the character like he relishes it, embracing Bateman's violent urges and impulses as his own. Also starring Justin Theroux, Chloë Sevigny, Josh Lucas, Reese Witherspoon, Willem Dafoe, and Jared Leto, the film is considered a commercial success.
In the podcast, Ellis also revealed that the film is a reimagining with a wholly new screenplay by Scott Burns. The author added that the upcoming project would not have any resemblance to Bale and Harron's 2000 film.
Guadagnino’s project has Frenesy Films as its producer, Sam Pressman of Pressman Film as its executive producer, and Lionsgate as its distributor. While the makers are yet to find a lead actor for it, the likes of Jacob Elordi and Austin Butler have been rumoured to take on the role.
