Guadagnino Offers “American Psycho” Update

For a good portion of late last year came trade reports that “Challengers” and “Queer” film director Luca Guadagnino has been circling to direct a new adaptation of author Bret Easton Ellis’ novel “American Psycho”.

Things got as far as Austin Butler being rumored to star as the lead character of Patrick Bateman in the film which would be the second film adaptation following Mary Herron’s 2000 feature starring Christian Bale as Bateman.

Then in January, Ellis himself shot down the reports claiming it as “fake news” and saying he’s not involved creatively in any way, while the names mentioned have no deals in place.

Now, Guadagnino himself has spoken about the project for the first time with Konbini (via World of Reel) revealing that he’d never actually seen the previous film adaptation until very recently:

“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 Italy in the 1990s, 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.”

That would suggest that if the film does go ahead, it will be more akin to the original Ellis-penned work rather than trying to remake Herron’s film adaptation. As for where the project currently stands, it’s still very early in development:

“I met this great screenwriter, whom I always loved, called Scott Z. Burns, who wrote ‘Contagion,’ who has directed himself – great writer and so so smart. He’s now writing it, so we’ll see.”

The book centers on wealthy, narcissistic and vain young Manhattan investment banker named Patrick Bateman who lives a double life as a serial killer. The work garnered notoriety for its graphic violence, leading it to be censored in multiple countries.

Guadagnino has multiple commitments in the near future ranging from the DC comics adaptation “Sgt. Rock” to a new take on William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies” among other projects.

The post Guadagnino Offers “American Psycho” Update appeared first on Dark Horizons.