The original American Psycho casting director discusses which role Austin Butler would actually be perfect to play in the upcoming adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ novel of the same name. In late 2024, it was announced that director Luca Guadagnino will helm a new American Psycho movie with a script by Scott Z. Burns. Rather than being a simple remake of the previous 2000 movie starring Christian Bale, it will be a reimagining of the original novel. Butler has been rumored to be in consideration to play Patrick Bateman.

Kerry Barden, who worked on Mary Harron’s American Psycho as the casting director, told The Hollywood Reporter that Butler is a potentially better fit for Paul Allen, previously played by Jared Leto. She argued that they cast Leto in the role because the actor has a rare kind of attraction in addition to his acting skills, which Butler also possesses. Read Barden’s comment below:

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.

What This Means For The New American Psycho Movie

Paul Allen Is Meant To Be Beautiful

For the first American Psycho, the role of Patrick Bateman initially went to Leonardo DiCaprio before Christian Bale took over the part, a move that was somewhat controversial at the time. Since then, however, it has become one of Bale’s most defining roles, and that’s the reason there is so much discussion and interest in who will be the next to play Patrick onscreen. The role could be a huge achievement for Guadagnino’s pick, just as it was for Bale.

Barden’s comments shed some light on how the original American Psycho proceeded with its casting and offer an interesting alternative to Butler’s rumored involvement with the new film. However, as Guadagnino will be approaching the project with a stronger emphasis on the source material rather than the 2000 movie, he will likely want to envision something different for his take on the characters. Nevertheless, if Butler does end up playing Patrick Bateman, it will later be fascinating to consider a world where he was Paul Allen.

Our Take On Austin Butler’s Potential American Psycho Casting

He Can Play Paul, But He’d Make A Better Bateman

From playing Elvis Presley in the King of Rock’s biopic to a villain in Dune: Part II, Butler has the ability to handle characters with a darker edge, but he also brings a sense of raw vulnerability to every character he plays. In American Psycho, Paul is Bateman’s rival, which sounds very similar to Butler’s part in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune trilogy. There, he was positioned as the rival of Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides.

However, as a supporting character, Paul didn’t have deep character development in American Psycho, which could be seen as a waste of Butler’s talents. He could make Patrick Bateman memorable in his own way. The fact that he is such a different actor from Bale makes him perfect for the lead role in the new American Psycho.

Source: THR