Austin Butler cast as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho
Austin Butler has been cast as Patrick Bateman in filmmaker Luca Guadagnino’s adaptation of American Psycho.
Australian actor Jacob Elordi had been rumoured to be in the running but it ultimately went to Butler, who is best known for his roles in Elvis, Dune: Part Two and Bikeriders.
Author and provocateur Bret Easton Ellis’ infamous book caused a lot of consternation on its release in 1991. In Australia, the book is R-rated for its intense violence, and is sold shrink-wrapped.
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There is an interpretation that Patrick is an unreliable narrator and all the murders are in his head.
At the time of publication, Ellis said the character was inspired by his father but years later admitted he had based it on himself and his relationship to voracious consumerism that had made him deeply unhappy.
The book had previously been adapted for the screen in 2000 by Canadian filmmaker Mary Harron with Christian Bale in the lead and a supporting cast that included Chloe Sevigny, Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto and Reese Witherspoon.
Harron’s version is considered a camp classic, and lends more credence to the idea that Patrick Bateman had made it all up.
A musical stage production was mounted in 2015 with Doctor Who and The Crown star Matt Smith as Patrick Bateman.
Guadagnino’s interpretation of the text is likely to differ from the other adaptations.
The prolific Italian filmmaker has worked in the horror space before with a remake of Dario Argento’s Suspiria as well as his cannibal romance Bones and All.
Guadagnino is known for the adaptation of Call Me By Your Name, which earnt Timothee Chalamet an Oscar nomination, as well as his films with Tilda Swinton, I Am Love and A Bigger Splash.
Earlier this year, he released the menage-a-trois tennis drama Challengers with Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, while his current film, Queer, starring Daniel Craig, is in the awards season race.
He just finished filming After the Hunt, due for release in 2025, which stars Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri and Andrew Garfield.
Guadagnino was first linked to a new version of American Psycho in October.
