'American Psycho': Who will follow Christian Bale's iconic role?
(NEXSTAR) — Following the news that Italian director Luca Guadagnino ("Call Me By Your Name," "Challengers") plans to direct a new "American Psycho" movie, the internet went wild speculating who will be chosen to be the next Patrick Bateman.
It's a role made famous on screen by Academy Award winner Christian Bale in the 2000 film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' controversial 1991 novel of the same name. Bale's performance as the sadistic — yet somehow still funny — investment banker has often been touted as his best and the film is frequently discussed, memed, and referenced in various films and TV shows.
Lionsgate, who will produce and release the film, has been careful to underline that the film will not be a remake of the Mary Harron-directed cult classic but instead more closely adapt Ellis' novel.
Immediately, the internet set about fan-casting Patrick Bateman. Here's a look at some of the names bouncing around online — though so far, none of these actors are attached to the film.
Jacob Elordi
The 6'5" Australian actor (and internet babygirl) Jacob Elordi first broke onto the scene as a love interest in Netflix's "The Kissing Booth" films and as part of HBO's "Euphoria," but he's since broken out of teen roles in films like "Saltburn" and "Priscilla." For his role as Elvis Presley in "Priscilla," Elordi received high praise and was nominated for a People's Choice Award earlier this year for Drama Movie Star of the Year. Elordi is next set to star as Frankenstein's Monster in horror/fantasy maestro Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein." All of which is not to mention that Elordi recently entered Guadagnino's orbit, starring alongside Margot Robbie in a Guadagnino-directed Chanel ad.
Nicholas Alexander Chavez
It's been a massive year for Nicholas Alexander Chavez. The 25 year-old left behind a three-year tenure on "General Hospital" — for which he won a Daytime Emmy Award — to become one of young Hollywood's hottest names by fall. Chavez's profile skyrocketed after the September premiere of "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story," where Chavez portrays Lyle Menendez, the more commanding and confident of the two brothers. It's his role as Menendez, in addition to his role in the FX horror drama series "Grotesquerie," which many pointed to as indicators of his fitness for the role of Bateman.
Cooper Koch
Yet another star of "Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story" is being tossed into the ring for the next Patrick. What's more, Cooper Koch already said he's down. In conversation with the Hollywood Reporter, 28 year-old Koch said, "Luca's doing 'American Psycho,' so I think I can do Patrick Bateman... I haven't played a serial killer yet, so I think I could do it." Koch, who also appeared in the teen horror movie "They/Them" before his big turn as Erik Menendez, further said that post "Monsters," opportunities are rolling in. Could "American Psycho" be one of them?
Harris Dickinson
While 28 year-old British actor Harris Dickinson has appeared in several movies in the past several years, his true star-making turn came with roles in 2022's Best Picture nominee "Triangle of Sadness" and in the big screen adaptation of the best-selling novel, "Where the Crawdads Sing." Dickinson also appeared in the star-studded 2023 film, "The Iron Claw," where he earned rave reviews for his role as late professional wrestler David Von Erich. He can next be seen in the erotic thriller "Babygirl," alongside Nicole Kidman.
Timothée Chalamet
One frequent suggestion for the next Bateman is a known Guadagnino collaborator, Timothée Chalamet. The 28 year-old Oscar nominee ("Call Me By Your Name") is considered among Hollywood's brightest young stars, with starring roles in films like "Wonka" and the "Dune" movies. Although known for his boyish charm and delicate masculinity, many online have expressed belief that with his increasingly darker roles he could potentially be just the right person for a "different" take on the abrasive Bateman.
Josh O'Connor or Mike Faist
Both Josh O'Connor (Netflix's "The Crown") and Mike Faist ("West Side Story") have both circulated the fancasts, especially given that both men recently starred in Guadagnino's hit romantic sports drama "Challengers." O'Connor, 34, has also appeared in several high-profile international films and can next be seen in "Wake Up Dead Man," the latest film in the "Knives Out" series. Faist, 32, meanwhile, has a background in theatre, having been nominated for a Tony Award for his role in the Broadway hit "Dear Evan Hansen." He was most recently seen alongside Golden Globe-winner Austin Butler in "The Bikeriders."
Austin Butler
Thirty-three year-old Austin Butler successfully has made several transitions in his career. From his beginnings as a Nickelodeon star, Butler then became a teen star (The CW's "The Carrie Diaries") before his major break as Elvis Presley in 2022's "Elvis" — for which Butler won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy Award. His portrayal of the legendary rocker catapulted him to stardom, following up "Elvis" with a starring role in "Dune: Part Two" and a role in horror maestro Ari Aster's ("Hereditary") forthcoming western, "Eddington."
Others
A few other names bouncing around social media as potential "American Psycho"s include more subversive casting choices (not white and/or not male), like Margaret Qualley ("The Substance"), Charles Melton ("May December"), Dev Patel ("Monkey Man") and Daniel Kaluuya ("Nope").
Though many have suggested these young actors could step into the starring role of Guadagnino's "American Psycho," others online expressed that while gender- and race-blind casting is usually a good thing, Patrick Bateman's maleness and whiteness are central to the character and the story.
One X user explained in a popular post: "American Psycho is one of those rare instances where I think there simply cannot be a case made for the main character to be race-swapped or gender-swapped — because, as it happens, that's a fundamental part of what both the novel and film are critiquing... Patrick Bateman is a lean, conventionally attractive, white male of high social status intentionally. Patrick Bateman being a serial killer isn't the main point of the novel or film, simply that people like him can get away with such horrific acts due to their sociopolitical and economic power."
It's an opinion shared by The Mary Sue writer Rachel Leishman, who opines in her recent piece, "Casting a white man as Patrick Bateman is extremely important" that Bateman's being is a "reflection on privilege."
Leishman explains plainly: "He’s the product of a society that honors white men above all else."
There's currently no release date for Guadagnino's "American Psycho," though it's also important to note that the Italian auteur develops lots of projects — including a new adaptation of "Lord of the Flies" and a "Scarface" remake — that don't end up happening. That's Hollywood! But given the fervent interest in the next Patrick Bateman, it's likely there's enough attention on this one for it to get the green light.