Christian Bale’s performance as Patrick Bateman, the serial killer in the film, is considered so exceptional that it’s reportedly making some actors hesitant to take on similar roles.
Christian Bale, the Academy Award-winning actor, is known for playing memorable characters like Batman and John Connor. However, many fans consider his role as Patrick Bateman in the 2000 film American Psycho to be his most significant. The movie, based on Bret Easton Ellis’s often-debated 1991 novel, features Bale as a wealthy Wall Street banker who leads a double life as a serial killer.
Lionsgate announced plans for a new American Psycho film in 2024, to be directed by Luca Guadagnino, known for Call Me by Your Name. While fans have been guessing who will play Patrick Bateman, the project hasn’t moved forward much, and the book’s author may have revealed why.
On his podcast, Bret Easton Ellis revealed that some well-known actors have declined to participate in a project. He can’t say exactly why, but he suspects Christian Bale’s incredibly famous performance in a previous role is making other actors hesitant to join.
“I think maybe because they don’t want to be in the shoes of Christian Bale.”
Ellis shared that Scott Z. Burns has completed the script, despite previous drafts not appealing to many actors. He emphasized that this new film is a total departure from Mary Harron’s 2000 version, with no similarities at all.
The author’s latest information confirms the remake will be a fresh take on the original, according to Lionsgate. Frenesy Film will produce the movie, and Sam Pressman will serve as executive producer through Pressman Film.
As soon as news of a remake surfaced, people began guessing who would play Patrick Bateman, with Robert Pattinson and Jacob Elordi as early favorites. There were also reports in December 2024 that Austin Butler had been offered the part. Later, in 2025, rumors spread suggesting the role might be reimagined as a female character, with Margot Robbie potentially starring, but that claim was quickly proven false.
I’m still eagerly awaiting news on who will play Patrick Bateman, but Bret Easton Ellis recently explained why it’s been so hard to cast. It makes total sense when you consider how committed Christian Bale was to the role – he really became Bateman during filming, even using method acting and staying in character the whole time! Apparently, it was so convincing, it even threw some of his co-stars, like Chloë Sevigny, off balance.
Although Gareth Bale went to great lengths to prepare for his role, the work paid off. The film became a beloved cult classic and helped launch Christian Bale’s career. It was also a financial hit, earning $34.2 million on a $7 million budget. A sequel, American Psycho 2, starring Mila Kunis, was made, but it received negative reviews and was disowned by the original author, Bret Easton Ellis.
The recent comments from the author haven’t helped matters, but the movie continues to resonate with a new audience. Christian Bale’s performance as Patrick Bateman remains popular even twenty years later, becoming a frequent subject of memes. Many Gen Z viewers now see Bateman as the ultimate “sigma male.”
Honestly, whenever the idea of someone else playing Patrick Bateman comes up, I immediately picture Christian Bale – and I know I’m not alone! It probably explains why so many big actors are hesitant to take on the role. It’s just such an iconic performance, and there’s immense pressure to not fall short when following someone who’s set the bar so high. We’ve seen a couple of tries – Matt Smith did it on stage, and there was that sequel with Michael Kremko – but Bale is Bateman for most of us, and it’s hard to imagine anyone topping that performance.
Christian Bale wasn’t immediately keen to play Patrick Bateman – in fact, he almost turned it down. His agent warned him the role could ruin his career, but Bale ultimately took the risk and proved everyone wrong. His performance as the intense and disturbing serial killer remains iconic even now.
The remake of what’s been called an ‘unfilmable’ story is on hold, waiting for an actor brave enough to take on the iconic role. There haven’t been any recent announcements about filming or release dates for the American Psycho remake.
Read More
- Everything We Know About Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 3
- Stranger Things Brings Back Divisive Season 2 Character in Season 5 Vol. 1
- Man of Tomorrow: James Gunn Debunks Rumor Regarding DCU’s [Spoiler]
- Western Comedy ‘Eddington” Is Streaming on HBO Max, Starring Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Trailer Is Here, And I’m All About Rosalina And That Villainous Introduction
- Tom Felton’s Official Harry Potter Return Finally Revealed With Rapturous Applause In Emotional Cursed Child Video
- Brendan Fraser Reflects on Missing Out on Playing Superman in J.J. Abrams’ Canceled ‘Superman: Flyby’
- Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Nearly Sold Out: One Final Date Remains (And It’s Not Cheap)
- Taika Waititi Developing New Comedy for Hulu
- Lena Headey’s New Netflix Series The Abandons: A Western Drama with Game of Thrones Vibes
2026-02-22 05:21