Luca Guadagnino Casts Austin Butler as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, Sparking Excitement

Over the years, Mary Harron’s “American Psycho” from 2000 has morphed into a bit of a modern classic, even if it didn’t hit the mark right away. The magic ingredient? Christian Bale’s unforgettable portrayal. Recently, we’ve caught wind of Luca Guadagnino’s fresh take on Bret Easton Ellis’s novel, with an intriguing choice for the lead role: Austin Butler.

It’s been a mere couple of months since we discovered Lionsgate’s plans to take a new spin on the story—not to replicate the original film, but to offer something fresh. The fact that Guadagnino is at the helm was already a promising start, with Scott Z. Burns accompanying as the writer. But let’s be honest, a project like this truly hinges on the actor’s ability to carry it all on their shoulders. Fortunately, Lionsgate and Guadagnino have landed one of the industry’s brightest young talents for the task.

The casting scoop comes from Variety, keeping a close watch on this project. Rumors swirled around Jacob Elordi being in the mix, but there’s no solid confirmation if he officially tested for the role. Interestingly, both Butler and Elordi share a unique connection: they’ve both stepped into the shoes of Elvis recently, with Baz Luhrmann and Sofia Coppola at the helm of those projects, respectively.

Butler’s meteoric rise in Hollywood is undeniably impressive. He’s worked alongside cinematic powerhouses like Luhrmann, Jeff Nichols, Denis Villeneuve, and Cary Joji Fukunaga, dabbling in both film and television. What’s next on his plate? He’s involved in Ari Aster’s next venture, “Eddington,” and might be joining Michael Mann’s “Heat 2,” plus numerous other enticing projects. At just 33, his resume is nothing short of impressive. His recent performance in “Dune: Part Two” earlier this year left audiences convinced of his prowess, particularly as the unforgettable Feyd-Rautha. Safe to say, he’s more than ready to dive into the character of Patrick Bateman.

As for Guadagnino, he’s consistently proven himself as one of today’s most dynamic and successful directors. This year alone, he’s brought us “Challengers” and “Queer,” wrapped up shooting “After the Hunt,” and is eyeing a slew of potential projects—including “Sgt. Rock” for DC Studios. If that goes forward, it could even see him reuniting with Daniel Craig post “Queer.” We’re eagerly anticipating confirmation on that one, so stay tuned for updates.