It’s been reported that Luca Guadagnino is set to direct an American Psycho reboot starring Austin Butler as Patrick Bateman. But according to Bret Easton Ellis, the author of the novel on which the iconic 2000 film was based, there’s no truth to these reports—at least for now.
While speaking on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast, Ellis debunked the reboot rebot, calling it “fake news.” He explained, “I have a feeling it’s fake news. I heard somewhere, from someone, that there are no contracts.
“Austin Butler hasn’t signed anything to play Patrick Bateman. Luca [Guadagnino] doesn’t have a deal. Scott Burns, who is supposed to write the screenplay, doesn’t have a deal either.”
Ellis went on to clarify that, based on his sources, “this is just fake news that was put out there to see how an audience is going to react.”
The original American Psycho, directed by Mary Harron and starring Christian Bale, is a cult film, making the idea of a reboot a divisive proposition. While some fans are interested by the idea of Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name, Bones and All) reinterpreting the story, others question whether a remake is necessary.
Ellis went on to reveal that he hasn’t been involved in any talks about the potential project. He said: “I have nothing to do with this. I might get some money if they do this, but I am not involved creatively on any level, and that is all I know.”
Hollywood has been known to float unconfirmed projects as a way of testing the waters, and with the popularity of American Psycho, it wouldn’t be surprising if the buzz around a reboot serves as a test for potential success.
We’ll just have to wait and see what’s going on with this potential film project.
