As per InSneider, Lionsgate recently announced plans to remake Mary Harron’s ‘American Psycho,’ a film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ controversial 1991 novel.
Made on February 24, the announcement also includes plans for a remake of David Cronenberg’s ‘The Dead Zone.’
Lionsgate is currently on the hunt for a writer to bring a new perspective to Bateman’s character, and they are aiming to adapt the story to reflect modern themes while maintaining its edge on consumer culture.
Bret Easton Ellis Said He’d Be in Silicon Valley
In 2016, reflecting on the character’s evolution, Bret Easton Ellis suggested that a modern-day Bateman might be the founder of several websites:
“For a while during the mid-to-late ’90s-at the height of the dot-com bubble, when Manhattan seemed even more absurdly decadent than it did in 1987 before Black Monday – it was a possibility that Bateman, if the book had been moved up a decade, would have been the founder of several dot-coms.”
He also argued that he’d be working in Silicon Valley and using Tinder:
“Sometimes I think that if I had written the book in the past decade, perhaps Bateman would have been working in Silicon Valley, living in Cupertino with excursions into San Francisco or down to Big Sur to the Post Ranch Inn and palling around with Zuckerberg and dining at the French Laundry, or lunching with Reed Hastings at Manresa in Los Gatos, wearing a Yeezy hoodie and teasing girls on Tinder.”
A direct-to-video sequel, ‘American Psycho 2‘ (2002), featuring Mila Kunis, attempted to capitalize on the original film’s success but failed to connect with fans.
What Do Fans Think?
As for the casting of Patrick Bateman, fans have voiced their preferences, with Glenn Howerton coming up as a favorite. Known for his portrayal of a sociopathic character in ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,’ Howerton’s potential casting sparked excitement. Other names floated by social media include Allison Williams, Jacob Elordi, Barry Keoghan, and Chris Pratt.
With no writer or director officially attached yet, the project is in its early stages, but it’s clear that Lionsgate is set to reintroduce Patrick Bateman to a new generation.