Thanks to Luca Guadagnino, Patrick Bateman will be back.
The auteur has announced that he is in final negotiations for a new interpretation of iconic novel “American Psycho,” which was first brought to the screen in 2000. Christian Bale led the original film alongside Guadagnino’s frequent collaborator Chloë Sevigny.
“American Psycho” will be adapted from Bret Easton Ellis’ novel by Scott Z. Burns (“Extrapolations,” “The Bourne Ultimatum”). Rather be than a remake of the 2000 feature, the film will be a new adaptation of Ellis’ IP, per a press statement from Lionsgate. Mary Harron directed the original film from a screenplay by Harron and Guinevere Turner.
Guadagnino’s iteration of “American Psycho” will be produced by Frenesy Films, and executive produced by Pressman Film’s Sam Pressman, the son of Edward R. Pressman, who was a producer of the first adaptation.
“We are thrilled to add another elite filmmaker to our upcoming slate,” Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson said. “Luca is a brilliant artist, and the perfect visionary to create a whole new interpretation of this potent and classic IP.”
Guadagnino has been on a novel adaptation kick: The filmmaker helmed “Queer” based on William S. Burroughs’ unfinished novella, and told IndieWire that he hopes to bring “Buddenbrooks” by Thomas Mann to the screen. “Separate Rooms” by late author Pier Vittorio Tondelli has also been adapted to the screen, with Guadagnino reuniting with his “Challengers” actor Josh O’Connor for the feature. Léa Seydoux co-stars.
Guadagnino additionally is in post-production on “After the Hunt,” which stars Sevigny, Julia Roberts, and Andrew Garfield. He is represented by CAA, Range Media Partners, and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher.
As for “American Psycho” author Ellis, he is set to make his own directorial debut with “Relapse” starring “Stranger Things” breakout Joseph Quinn. Ellis’ latest semi-autobiographical novel “The Shards,” set in 1981 Los Angeles against the backdrop of a serial killer’s reign, is set to be adapted into a limited series for HBO. The series will be directed by “Dream Scenario” filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli.
Ellis has previously written four films prior to “Relapse,” including Paul Schrader’s “The Canyons” and Tim Hunter’s “Smiley Face Killers.”
