“Because he is that beautiful”: Original American Psycho’s casting director pictures Austin Butler in a different role for the reboot

Hollywood has been taking a full swing on remakes and reboots lately; American Psycho is in it, too. Which is great, not because it's been a long time, but because of how they massacred our psycho Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) in the name of Rachael Newman, played by Mila Kunis (a decision she herself regretted), in its sequel. Many would want to erase it from their memories.

Mary Harron directed the first film based on Bret Easton Ellis's story; now Luca Guadagnino is working on the story's reimagining, and Austin Butler is reportedly playing the titular Bateman. But the casting director of the original film, Kerry Barden, thinks Butler is a fit for another role. In his recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he commented,

"I would cast Austin in Jared’s role because he’s that beautiful, and that’s why we cast Jared, is because he’s that beautiful. Jared is certainly a great actor as well, and obviously, Austin has a lot of depth as an actor, too. But not every person has that kind of beauty."

Jared Leto played Paul Allen in American Psycho, Bateman's colleague living a lavish life, and the third victim after a homeless man and a dog. Who knows, Austin Butler might end up playing the beautiful Allen, as he is just rumored to be cast as Bateman.

What's the latest news on the new American Psycho?

The latest update actually came not from the film's side but from the author's side (it's not an update, really). Ellis, in his The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast, said earlier this April that,

"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 doesn’t have a deal. Scott Burns, who is supposed to write the screenplay, doesn’t have a deal either."

Moreover, the author implies that all of it was done to catch people's reactions on the news.

However, Bloody Disgusting had an update on this, which mentions Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson being "thrilled" about Luca joining them for this classic IP.

Austin Butler has the right face to replace Patrick Bateman

Kerry Barden has spoken: Austin Butler has too beautiful a face for the American Psycho lead. However, he is the best fit for this role as he brings that killer charisma, a character who is self-aware, and someone who can be as jealous as Bale's character in the film. Now, he hasn't played a psycho with a lavish lifestyle before; he has played a psycho. Look back at Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).

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Jared Leto's Paul Allen was more social and mingled with the crowd naturally. His life was going really well until he made that remark on Bateman, and the last he saw was an axe in his head, or wherever it hit him. The point is that the character is more of a cynic, which is different from what the lead in American Psycho is.

There were rumors that Jacob Elordi was to play the lead in the Luca Guadagnino film, but until anything's announced publicly, we need to take all of it with a grain of salt.

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