Released in 2000, American Psycho follows the story of Patrick Bateman—a rich investment banker in New York City. He hides his violent and hedonistic fantasies from his co-workers and friends while pretending to be normal. The movie is adapted from Bret Easton Ellis’ 1991 novel and quickly became a favorite of many.
A recent rumor suggests that Lionsgate wants to update Bateman and his story. So, there are five actors who can replace Christian Bale in the remake that nobody asked for.
“Stop messing with classics”: One of the Christian Bale Movies is Getting a Remake, Fans are Furious
Five Actors Who Can Replace Christian Bale in the American Psycho Remake
Industry insider Jeffrey Sneider reports that Lionsgate is working on a modern-day remake of American Psycho. “Lionsgate is plotting a new American Psycho movie,” he reported in his newsletter @TheInsneider.
It’s tough to picture anyone other than Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman. Even Michael Kremko tried the role in 2002’s American Psycho 2 but failed. Now there are five actors who could do better than him. Let’s see if they fit the bill.
Jacob Elordi
Jacob Elordi, known for romantic comedies, is suggested for the role of Patrick Bateman because he showed his great acting chops in Euphoria as Nate Jacobs—a complex character.
Despite his role as the bad boy love interest, Noah Flynn in The Kissing Booth, Elordi’s portrayal of Nate proves his capability for darker roles. This makes him a suitable for the role of Patrick Bateman, too.
Austin Butler
Austin Butler has shown he can play different roles, like he did in The Carrie Diaries and Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. This proves he can also handle a complex character like Patrick Bateman. He also looks quite similar to how Bateman is described in the novel American Psycho.
Alexander Skarsgård
Alexander Skarsgård has tackled complex and dark roles like Perry Wright in Big Little Lies before. He has a strong presence and good looks, which align with Patrick Bateman’s perfect and charismatic outward appearance.
Evan Peters
Evan Peters could bring a new angle to the role of Patrick Bateman with his youthful energy. He’s proven his acting chops in various TV shows and movies.
You might recognize him from American Horror Story where he played troubled characters. He’s also taken on real-life roles like Warren Lipka in American Animals and Jeffrey Dahmer in Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.
Robert Pattinson
Robert Pattinson gets into his characters, inside and out. He really goes all in for the characters (can be seen in Good Time and The Lighthouse) he plays.
That’s important for someone like Patrick Bateman, who’s complex and troubled. Pattinson’s up for challenges and he’s great on screen, so he’d be a solid pick for a new American Psycho remake.
American Psycho Remake Gets Negative Reactions from Fans
In April 2021, Kevin Beggs, chairman of Lionsgate Television, announced that a TV series based on American Psycho was in development. Then in 2023, Sumerian Comics released a sequel comic depicting Bateman’s murders. This suggests the possibility of a sequel to American Psycho in comic book form.
It was also confirmed during Comic-Con 2023 by Sumerian that the series would consist of four issues. But, the question remains: do fans actually want it? Online reactions show that fans are unhappy with the update of the remake. Check out some reactions:
Step 1: Don't
— Chillerdew (@Chillerdew) February 24, 2024
Ughh why aren’t we making original movies? This is baffling. Nobody wants this
— Denny O'Leary 𝕏 (@thedennyoleary) February 24, 2024
How about they don’t ? The original is perfect.
— Unfolding Cine (@Cineunfold) February 24, 2024
Fans of the original movie aren’t happy, especially when any movie tries to connect itself with the highly praised original. So, maybe it’s not worth attempting?
Watch American Psycho (2000) on Prime Video.
