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American Psycho is getting a remake (and Luca Guadagnino is directing)

Hollywood has been trying to get this film off the ground for years.
ByDanilo Castro|
"Queer" Special Presentation - 68th BFI London Film Festival
"Queer" Special Presentation - 68th BFI London Film Festival | Jeff Spicer/GettyImages

American Psychois a classic. The 2000 black comedy marked a dizzying creative high for director Mary Harron and a breakthrough performance from Christian Bale. It has since become fodder for internet memes and debates regarding its merits as a "film bro" staple.

Nothing is sacred in Hollywood, however. Lionsgate has been flirting with the idea of remaking the film for several months, and the studio has finally made it official.American Psychowill be betting a modern remake, and Oscar nominee Luca Guadagnino will direct.

Luca Guadagnino is coming off a stellar run of films

Luca Guadagnino
Special Screening Of "Queer" At Ham Yard Hotel | Dave Benett/GettyImages

Deadlinebrokethe news on October 18. The outlet confirmed that Guadagnino will get to work remaking the classic Bret Easton Ellis novel after he wraps up shooting on his upcoming release,After the Hunt. Gudagnino has been on an absolute hot streak over the last few years, in terms of critical acclaim and output.

After the Huntwill mark the fourth film he's directed in four years. The other releases includeBones and All(2022), Challenges andQueer(both 2024).Challengers, in particular, took the film world by storm, grossing $94 million and earning rave reviews from critics.

The titularAmerican Psychohas yet to be cast

Scott Z. Burns has signed on to adapt the aforementioned novel, which was published in 1991. Burns has been been quiet on the film front this decade, but he's penned several acclaimed films for Steven Soderbergh, includingThe Informant!(2009),Contagion(2011) andSide Effects(2013).

More recently, Burns served as the showrunner and writer of the 2023 miniseriesExtrapolations. The series strung together a series of anthology stories, and showcased Burns' knack for ensemble tales. The black comedy and singular, subjective tone ofAmerican Psychois not something one typically associates with Burns, so it'll be interesting to see how he fares with Ellis' source material.

Lionsgate has not yet castAmerican Psycho's titular character. Gudagnino is known for working with talented young leading men like Josh O'Connor, Mike Faist, and Timothee Chalamet, however, so it'll no doubt be someone who is up to the challenge.

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