Margot Robbie reportedly won’t be playing Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, following speculation about a gender-swapped reimagining.
In her nearly 20-year-long career, the 35-year-old has played Queen Elizabeth the 1st, Harley Quinn and even Barbie, and last week it was reported, Robbie is being lined up to step into serial killer shoes.
An industry insider told The Sun that plans were in motion to remake the cult classic with a female version of Bateman.
‘Brett’s novel and the film were so controversial, and the people working on the remake wanted to twist the narrative by having a female actress take on the lead of Bateman,’ they said.
‘There was a huge backlash about misogyny when the novel came out back in the Nineties, and by having a female killer, it puts a different spin on the crimes.’
However, it looks like this won’t actually be happening, as a source close to the project told Deadline shut down rumours that a woman would play Patrick Bateman in the new film.
Luca Guadagnino‘s American Psycho reinterpretation will therefore be casting a man in the role, with speculation pointing towards Austin Butler and Jacob Elordi – if rumours are to be believed.
The Italian director is best known for his films, Challengers, Queer, After the Hunt, and Call Me By Your Name.
Directed by Mary Harron and based on Bret Easton Ellis’s 1991 novel of the same name, American Psycho was a divisive film when it was released back in 2000.
The gory thriller starred Christian Bale as yuppie serial killer Patrick Bateman as he stalked the offices and restaurants of Manhattan for victims.
While critics at the time enjoyed Bale’s unhinged performance and the film’s dark humour, there were those who found it as shallow as the materialist culture it satirised.
Yet despite that, the film became a cult hit, propelling Bale to international stardom, and American Psycho remains a favourite among horror aficionados.
Speaking to Metro in June this year, Herron, the original American Psycho director, had her say on the upcoming reboot rumours, vowing no one else could echo Christian Bale’s efforts in the iconic film.
When asked whether American Psycho needs to be remade, she told us: ‘I personally don’t, but obviously that’s how I would think.
‘It could surprise me, and be completely phenomenal, and something I would never have imagined…’
Discussing who she could see taking over from Christian, she continued: ‘No, I really can’t [imagine anyone else as Patrick], because also to me, it’s just fixed in my mind. I can’t reimagine it in that way.
‘But good luck to them. I’m just glad… It’s amazing to me that people are still this interested 25 years on – and more successful now than it was 25 years ago.
”When it first came out, audiences didn’t know what to think about it. I remember in the very first screening at Sundance, people didn’t know whether it was supposed to be funny or not.
‘Now I think people can enjoy a lot more because they know, “Yes, it’s okay to laugh at this!” Parts are supposed to be funny.’
News of a remake first broke in 2024 when Deadline reported that Lionsgate was working on it with Guadagnino set to direct.
It’s reported that the studio has been trying to crack a remake for sme time and that execs are very excited to see what Guadagnino will bring to the project.
‘We are thrilled to add another elite filmmaker to our upcoming slate,’ said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson at the time. ‘Luca is a brilliant artist, and the perfect visionary to create a whole new interpretation of this potent and classic IP.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
