Alright, I waited 24 hours, but I’ll put this one out there. It’s well worth a post.
Momentum on Luca Guadagnino and Lionsgate’s reimagining of “American Psycho” has been steadily growing. Social media sleuths have thrown around every name to play Patrick Bateman—Austin Butler, Jacob Elordi, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Connor Storrie—but as of now, I’m told they have yet to lock an actor for the role, although they are apparently inching closer.
I’m also hearing that Guadagnino has tapped Hoyte van Hoytema as his DP on the film, which recently had a draft turned in from writer Scott Z. Burns—said to be the third submitted since work began on the project. If things go as planned, Guadagnino is aiming to shoot in early summer.
I reached out to Guadagnino and his reps for comment on van Hoytema’s involvement and have yet to hear back.
Van Hoytema’s involvement is quite surprising, given that he’s primarily known as Christopher Nolan’s go-to cinematographer, having shot Nolan’s last five films. Still, over the past 13 or so years—since van Hoytema began his prolific run with Nolan—he’s also managed to shoot Spike Jonze’s “Her,” Sam Mendes’ “Spectre,” James Gray’s “Ad Astra,” and Jordan Peele’s “Nope.”
As mentioned, Scott Z. Burns is adapting Bret Easton Ellis’ 1991 novel, which shocked readers with its graphic depictions of a Manhattan psychopath. Lionsgate is producing. The story remains the same: Bateman, investment banker by day, remorseless killer by night, juggling a meticulously curated life while indulging in violent fantasies after dark.
Guadagnino recently spok about the project, for the first time, and made the surprising revelation that he’d never seen the 2000 film adaptation of “American Psycho,” starring Christian Bale (via Konbini):
I can’t say much about it. I saw Mary Harron’s movie quite recently. I missed it when it came out, but I read the book when it came out in 1990 Italy, and I wrote a script — I was obsessed with the book. I was very sad when they made the movie because I wanted to make the movie. That’s why I didn’t see it for a long time, and then it happened that I might do it.
Guadagnino shot a Sam Altman biopic, “Artificial,” last June, and that will likely hit in the fall, but “American Psycho” could very well be next, if he can somehow manage to find the right actor to play Patrick Bateman.