American Psycho fans ‘devastated’ as Hollywood star is officially cast as Christian Bale’s Patrick Bateman

American Psycho fans have been left ‘devastated’ as a recent Oscar nominee has been officially cast in the role that Christian Bale portrayed back in 2000 just two months after many voiced their displeasure that a remake was happening in the first place.

Austin Butler is set to star as Patrick Bateman in Luca Guadagnino’s new interpretation of the book American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis according to Variety on Wednesday.

 Many fans took to X (formally Twitter) to express that they were ‘devastated’ by the 33-year-old taking the role. 

One social media user wrote: ‘Actually devastated at Austin butler being cast as patrick bateman.’

Another said: ‘Such a miscast. A blonde could never pull it off.’

Others believed that the role would simply be an impression of what Christian did 24 years ago and not anything original.

An X user said: ‘Love Butler but he’s gonna do a (probably great) Christian Bale impression. If this has to be remade, going with an unknown & surrounding him with killers was the way to go.’

It wasn’t all bad as many praised the casting news just a year after Austin was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for his work on Elvis.

One said: ‘I think he’s a good fit. I really liked what he did in Dune’

Another was excited by the news as they wrote: ‘I can see this working out well.’

It is important to note that the film will not be a remake of the 2000 American Psycho film starring Bale but will be a reimagining of the aforementioned novel featuring a script from The Laundromat writer Scott Z. Burns.

There had been rumors that Australian hunk Jacob Elordi was being considered for the role but that did not end up happening.

It is also interesting to note that both actors have played Elvis Presley as  the 27-year-old Aussie played the ‘King Of Rock ‘N Roll’ in Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla and Butler played him in Baz Lurhmann’s Elvis.

Just two months ago fans were left furious after a new adaptation of the film was announced – 24 years after the classic starring Christian Bale was released.

Bale, 50, received critical acclaim for his portrayal of yuppy serial killer Patrick Bateman in the 2000 film directed by Mary Harron – with the movie developing a cult following in the decades since.

But at the time it has been reported that  Call Me By Your Name director and Oscar nominee Guadagnino was in ‘final negotiations’ to direct a new film adaption based on Bret Easton Ellis’ original 1991 novel.

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson. said: ‘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.

The Bourne Ultimatum’s Scott Z. Burns has written the screenplay for new film.

It is currently unknown who will play Bateman – but the decision to make the film has left fans fuming at the ‘pointless’ decision.

One fan wrote: ‘I’m sorry, we do NOT need a new american psycho film. i don’t care if patrick bateman himself is directing. no! let something be sacred still.’ 

Another typed: ‘I am kind of the opinion that Mary Harron’s American Psycho is so perfect that another adaptation seems pointless tho.’

Others wrote: ‘an american psycho remake is the last thing we need rn’,’american psycho is perfect as it is. that movie does not need improvements. 

‘Even if it’s Luca, I don’t want it. That’s how perfect AMERICAN PSYCHO already is

‘there’s already an american psycho movie! stop remaking movies that are already movies!

Some fans supported the decision, writing: ‘Suspiria was incredible. If anyone can do a remake right it’s Guadagnino. Excited to see their take on American Psycho.

‘Mary Harron’s American Psycho is basically perfect, BUT, considering how brilliant Luca’s Suspiria remake is, I’m very curious to see his take on this.’

A standalone sequel – American Psycho 2 – was released in 2002 starring Mila Kunis and William Shatner, 

Kunis portrayed a criminology student who seeks to advance her career by murdering her classmates. 

Bale was famed for his rigorous process to embody the psychopath – with director Harron previously revealing he even managed to sweat on cue for his takes.

Bale also transformed his physique, spoke constantly in an American accent and refused to socialize with others on the set for the role.

The film also starred Reese Witherspoon, Chloe Sevigny, Willem Defoe and Jared Leto as the much-memed Paul Allen 

In 2004, Bale lost five stone to play emaciated insomniac Trevor Reznik in The Machinist by barely sleeping and surviving on a diet of coffee and apples.

After landing the role of the Caped Crusader in Batman Begins soon after, Christian swiftly bulked up his tiny 121 pound (8st 6lb) frame in just six weeks.

In 2022 Bale revealed he got paid even less than the makeup artists working on the film.

In an interview with GQ , Bale recalled getting laughed at by makeup artists over the pay gap and claimed he was being paid the legally minimum amount.

‘They had paid me the absolute minimum they were legally allowed to pay me,’ he told the magazine. ‘And I had a house that I was sharing with my dad and my sister and that was getting repossessed.

‘So the first thing was: “Holy crap. I’ve got to get a bit of money,” because I’ve got American Psycho done, but I remember one time sitting in the make-up trailer and the make-up artists were laughing at me because I was getting paid less than any of them.

‘And so that was my motivation after that. It was just: “I got to get enough that the house doesn’t get repossessed.”‘