Luca Guadagnino's 'American Psycho' will not have a gender swap in the leading role

Preparations for a new adaptation of American Psychobased on the 1991 book of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis, are still going strong with Lionsgate and the filmmaker Luca Guadagnino (Suspiria, Bones and All, Call Me By Your Name).

Over the weekend, numerous reports emerged – coming from UK tabloids – that the lead role of Patrick Bateman (who was played by Christian Bale in the original film) would have a gender swap in Guadagnino's versionand Margot Robbie would be chosen to play him.

The reaction of Internet users was immediate. However, Deadline rules out the gender swap. The source says:

“People close to the project tell us that the reinterpretation of American Psycho by Luca Guadagnino will not have a gender swap.”

The project was announced in February 2024, and since then candidates for the main role have emerged, such as the case of Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein, Euphoria) y Austin Butler (Caught Stealing, Elvis), and even in recent months, Patrick Schwarzenegger (The White Lotus) said he was interested in taking on the role as the serial killer, Bateman.

Chloë Sevigny revealed over the summer that he proposed Guadagnino reprise his role as Jean, but added that the suggestion was not very successful with the filmmaker.

Nothing about the cast has been confirmed yet and casting discussions continue.

The 2000 adaptation directed by Mary Harron starred Bale as Bateman, Sevigny as Jean and also included Reese Witherspoon, Justin Theroux, Jared Leto, Willem Dafoe, Josh Lucas, Bill Sage, Samantha Mathis and Matt Ross.

It is important to note that Guadagnino's version It will NOT be a remake of the 2000 film de Harron, but a new adaptation of Ellis' novel.

The script for the new adaptation was written by Scott Z. Burns (The Laundromat, The Report, Contagion).

“Patrick Bateman, a wealthy New York City investment bank executive, hides his alternative psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends while delving deeper into his violent and hedonistic fantasies.”

The film will be produced by Frenesy Films, with executive producer Sam Pressman, son of Edward R. Pressman the producer of the 2000 film.

In February 2024, Adam Fogelson, president of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said in a press release:

“We are thrilled to add another elite filmmaker to our upcoming slate of films. Luca is a brilliant artist and the perfect visionary to create a completely new interpretation of this powerful and classic intellectual property.”