It looks like Lionsgate is heading back to the Patrick Bateman well. Luca Guadagnino is set to direct a new adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis novel, American Psycho, according to Deadline. Their souces say that he’s in final negotiations to direct a new interpretation of the novel with a script from Scott Z. Burns. The original novel came out in 1991 and was a scathing rebuke of the Reagan-era of excess and gave us an immense amount of detail into the life of Manhattan yuppie, Patrick Bateman. It also gave us graphic depictions of violence and murder that led to it being censored in several countries.
In 2002 we got the first adaptation of the novel starring Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman. It’s one of his most iconic roles and director Mary Harron knocked the adaptation out of the park. According to Deadline, the new movie won’t be a remake of that film, but a new reimagining of the novel. This is something that Lionsgate has been trying for quite a long time with American Psycho and they feel like Guadagnino is the perfect choice for it.
Here’s what Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson had to say about it.
“We are thrilled to add another elite filmmaker to our upcoming slate. Luca is a brilliant artist, and the perfect visionary to create a whole new interpretation of this potent and classic IP.”
Guadagnino is no stranger to reimagining classic movies though, his “remake” of Suspiria took what was layed out in the original horror classic and updated it for a modern audience to great effect. He’s also done films like Queer and Challengers in recent times.
We’ll keep you updated on this movie as it develops.
For more on Movie News, make sure to check back to That Hashtag Show.
Source: Deadline