In the context of the psychological thriller American Psycho, Josh Lucas recently revealed a moment that sparkled with genuine warmth during the high-stress filming of this cult classic. Lucas, a rising star at the time, recalled a heartwarming gesture from his seasoned co-star Willem Dafoe, which not only calmed his nerves but also imparted a wise piece of advice that he has carried with him since.
The 2000 genre-defying masterpiece, based on Bret Easton Ellis’ novel & helmed by Mary Harron, is known for its chilling narrative. Still, it’s the remarkable instance of Dafoe’s support—during the making of this horror satire—that showcases the undiminished human spirit behind the scenes.
With its timeless themes becoming increasingly relevant in today’s digital age, where memes have taken on a life of their own, the film is regarded as aging like fine wine. Christian Bale starred in the film as Patrick Bateman.
Josh Lucas Reflects on Willem Dafoe’s Kind Gesture During the Filming of American Psycho
With its eerie humor & incisive social commentary, American Psycho has amassed over $34 million in revenue on a $7 million budget (Box Office Mojo). One standout performance in the film is by Willem Dafoe as Donald Kimball, a private investigator looking into the disappearance of Paul Allen (Jared Leto).
While Dafoe’s portrayal of Kimball is memorable, what truly sets him apart is his kind gesture towards his co-star Josh Lucas (who played Craig McDermott) during filming. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Lucas reflected on his experience filming American Psycho and shared his concerns regarding working on such a high-profile project.
The Yellowstone actor, 52, admitted to feeling like a “newbie” among seasoned professionals and revealed that he was “shaking” with nerves when he first met Dafoe on set:
‘American Psycho’ was a very, very early film for me, and I was f*cking nervous. Back then, making ‘American Psycho,’ I felt like there was a group of people like you who had really deserved and earned their way into great filmmaking, and I sure felt like I was a newbie — and a nervous newbie, to say the least.
Lucas recalled expressing his anxiety to Dafoe, who responded with understanding and reassurance. To quote the former:
I got into the car with Willem Dafoe and I was honestly shaking. I said to him, ‘Man, I’m so nervous,’ and he turned around and he just gave me this great look and he was like, ‘Man, if you’re not nervous, something’s wrong.’ I’ve kind of maintained that every day.
His words of encouragement resonated with Lucas & helped him steer the challenges of working on a major film production.
How Christian Bale Overcame Studio Hurdles to Land Patrick Batema’s Role
Interestingly, Christian Bale, who played the lead role of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, also faced skepticism from industry insiders before ultimately winning over the studio with his commitment to the role. He said that the studio needed convincing to even consider casting him in the role after Leonardo DiCaprio famously turned it down.
In an earlier chat with GQ, Bale stated:
Nobody wanted me to do it except the director. So they said they would only make it if they could pay me that amount. I was prepping for it when other people were playing the part. I was still prepping for it. And, you know, it moved on. I lost my mind. But I won it back.
Subsequently, he emphasized that he was paid the “absolute minimum”, and even makeup artists made fun of the actor for making less money than any of them. In Bale’s words:
In honesty, the first thing was that I’d taken so long trying to do it, and they had paid me the absolute minimum they were legally allowed to pay me…So the first thing was, ‘Holy crap. I’ve got to get a bit of money,’ because I’ve got ‘American Psycho’ done, but I remember one time sitting in the makeup trailer and the makeup artists were laughing at me because I was getting paid less than any of them.
Despite initial struggles, Bale’s dedication to the character paid off, leading to a career-defining performance. Supporting cast members include Chloë Sevigny, Samantha Mathis, Cara Seymour, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Josh Lucas, and Reese Witherspoon.
Stream American Psycho on Peacock.
