Luca Guadagnino (Suspiria, Bones and All, Challengers, Queer) is set to direct a new take on Bret Easton Ellis' yuppie killer novel American Psycho for Lionsgate, Deadline have exclusively reported today.
Filmmaker and writer Scott Z. Burns (Contagion, Side Effects, The Bourne Ultimatum) is set to pen the adaptation of the controversial 1991 book.
The first American Psycho movie, directed by Mary Harron in 2000, starred Christian Bale as the maniacal Patrick Bateman, an investment banker turned serial killer. According to Deadline, sources say that rather than a remake, Guadagnino’s film will be a new adaptation of Ellis’ novel.
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson comments:
“We are thrilled to add another elite filmmaker to our upcoming slate [..] Luca is a brilliant artist, and the perfect visionary to create a whole new interpretation of this potent and classic IP.”
Anyone who has read Easton Ellis' novel will know that American Psycho was censored in multiple countries for its incredibly graphic depictions of torture and murder, not to mention extreme sexual content. Luca's filmography suggests he is shy about depicting neither of those things. He's also no stranger to adapting novels, as Call Me By Your Name and Queer prove.
A sequel, American Psycho 2 starring Mila Kunis, was released in 2002 to nowhere near the same acclaim as its prequel, but has generated something of an ironic fanbase in recent years. Harron's original has, of course, been memed within an inch of its life since release, but remains a cult classic.
The big question on everybody's lips of course now will be – just who is going to play Patrick Bateman? Frequent Guadagnino collaborator Timothée Chalamet perhaps?
Needless to say, we'll be watching Guadagnino's American Psycho closely and with great interest. More as we get it! Now, if you'll excuse us, we have to return some videotapes.
