Austin Butler Cast in New Adaptation of American Psycho

Austin Butler is our new Patrick Bateman, Variety reveals, as the project from Challengers‘ Luca Guadagnino finds its lead despite rumors previously swirling that Jacob Elordi would take on the role made famous by Christian Bale in 2000.

Set in the ’80s, American Psycho follows Bale as Bateman, the wealthy New York City investment banking exec who hides his alter ego from the people around him.

It was directed by Mary Harron, with a screenplay she co-wrote with Guinevere Turner, based on Bret Easton Ellis’ 1991 novel of the same name.

Now, Guadagnino takes on the project with The Bourne Ultimatum screenwriter Scott Z. Burns penning the screenplay. It pledges to be a new adaptation of the novel over a remake of Harron’s film.

Guadagnino has had a busy year, releasing two films: Challengers and Queer.

Challengers, starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist, is a heady, heated tennis flick written by Justin Kuritzkes that follows Tashi, a tennis prodigy who becomes her husband’s coach following an injury and documents the salacious love triangle between the three leads.

The film was released in April and was a hit, generating a ton of attention online and scoring four Golden Globe nominations, including a Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy nod for Zendaya.

Guadagnino’s Queer also got some love at the Golden Globes with Daniel Craig’s nomination in the “Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama” category.

The film is also penned by Justin Kuritzkes and is an adaptation of the 1985 novella by William S. Burroughs.

Queer takes place in Mexico City in the ’50s, and stars Craig stars as William Lee.

Guadagnino is currently attached to direct six projects, but it appears it’s full steam ahead on the American Psycho adaptation now that Austin Butler is on board.

Further details on the film are yet to be announced.