Austin Butler will play Patrick Bateman in Luca Guadagnino's 'American Psycho'

Luca Guadagnino (Suspiria, Bones and All, Call Me By Your Name) is preparing his next film project, a new adaptation of American Psycho based on the book of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis published in 1991, for the study Lionsgate.

Variety announced this morning that Austin Butler (Elvis, Dune: Part Two, The Bikeriders) has been cast in the lead role, to play serial killer Patrick Bateman.

Prior to Butler's signing, it was rumored that Jacob Elordi (Euphoria, Priscilla, Saltburn) was contending to land the leading role, although this did not materialize. Curiously, both Butler and Elordi played Elvis Presley in different films, Butler in Elvis by Baz Luhrmann, and Elordi in Priscilla by Sofia Coppola.

Scott Z. Burns (The Laundromat, The Report, Contagion) wrote the script.

It is important to note that the feature film It will NOT be a remake of the 2000 film directed by Mary Harron and starring Christian Bale, but a new adaptation of Ellis' novel. It was announced in February of this year.

“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.

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.”