Luca Guadagnino is reportedly set to direct a remake of “American Psycho.” Austin Butler is supposed to star as Patrick Batman. At least that’s what the trades have been telling us for the last few months.
Bret Easton Ellis, who wrote the novel, is saying it’s all bullsh*t. He doesn’t believe Guadagnino’s film is actually happening. This is what he said on his podcast:
I have a feeling it’s fake news. I heard somewhere, from someone, that there are no contracts. Austin Butler hasn’t signed anything to play Patrick Bateman. Luca doesn’t have a deal. Scott Burns, who is supposed to write the screenplay, doesn’t have a deal either. From various sources that I have, this is just fake news that was put out there to see how an audience is going to react.
Ellis’ theory is that the project doesn’t actually exist, and the news we’ve gotten so far is someone just “testing the waters” to see if such a project could pique the interest of an audience (or buyer). All he knows for sure is that he’s not involved in it whatsoever:
If it does exist, I am not involved, I have nothing to do with this, I might get some money if they do this, but I am not involved creatively on any level, and that is all I know.
An “American Psycho” film, directed by Mary Harron, and starring a never-better Christian Bale, was already released in 2000. Could this “fake” Guadagnino reboot just be an attempt by Lionsgate to boost its stock? It’s no secret that the struggling studio is trying to be sold, and a shiny new project like this one could make the studio look more attractive for acquisition.
Jeremy Saulnier’s mysterious A24 project, formerly “October,” still has no release date. You’d think, given that it has been in post-production for almost a year now.