Austin Butler is being hailed as the new Christian Bale, at least according to whispers circulating that the Oscar-nominated star of "Elvis" could be stepping into Bale's infamous shoes to portray Wall Street's enigmatic nepo baby-turned-possible serial killer, Patrick Bateman, in Luca Guadagnino's eagerly anticipated adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' highly debated 1991 bestseller, "American Psycho." Ryan Gajewski of The Hollywood Reporter recently engaged in a discourse with members of the team behind Mary Harron's acclaimed 2000 film version of Ellis' novel, revealing that not all are in enthusiastic agreement with Guadagnino's envisioned take on Bateman.
The most striking dissent came from casting director Kerry Barden, who posited that Butler's extraordinary beauty might outshine the darkness required for the role. Instead, Barden suggested that the 33-year-old actor would shine brightly in the part originally essayed by Jared Leto in Harron's film—that of Paul Allen. "I'd cast Austin in Jared's role because he possesses that rare, mesmerizing beauty," Barden confided to THR. "That's precisely why we cast Jared; he embodied that same captivating allure."
"Of course, Jared is an extraordinary actor, and Austin too brings immense depth to his performances," Barden continued. "But beauty of that caliber is a rare gem." This may very well be the most complimentary rejection in cinematic history.
Barden's expertise is undeniable, spanning over three decades and counting, with credits on countless blockbuster projects such as "Winter's Bone" (2010), "Pitch Perfect" (2012), "Dallas Buyers Club" (2013), and the Kristen Wiig-led Apple TV+ series "Palm Royale," among many others.
Lionsgate, the studio producing the new film, has made it clear that Guadagnino aims to craft a fresh interpretation of the book, rather than a mere remake of Harron's movie. This approach resonates with actor-director Matt Ross, who portrayed Luis Carruthers, Bateman's co-worker and unwitting admirer with a superior business card, in Harron's film. "It still smells of a business endeavor, but given its literary origins, multiple interpretations are not only possible but welcome," opined Ross. He further noted that Guadagnino and his team face a monumental challenge, "primarily because Christian's portrayal was nothing short of exceptional."
