2000’s American Psycho found the perfect casting with Christian Bale playing Patrick Bateman, but with a remake in the works, it’s time to consider who could live up to Bale’s performance. The story was first released as a novel by Bret Easton Ellis in 1991, and went on to garner critical acclaim. Less than 10 years later, it was adapted for the big screen by Lionsgate, with Mary Harron co-writing and directing. The choice to cast a young Christian Bale was instrumental in the film’s incredible success, and in launching his career to new heights thanks to his outstanding performance.
Patrick Bateman is complex, with many of his actions in the film being up for debate as either real or imagined. Bateman is a successful businessman in New York, but he hides a dark secret. While he plays the part of an executive, concerned with art, music, fine-dining and his relationships, he possesses no real attachment to any of them. Bateman has no emotional attachment to anyone, or anything, but he obsesses over playing the part of someone who does. However, he fantasizes about horrific acts of violence, and whether he goes on to commit them is left ambiguously open-ended.
American Psycho
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Based on the book of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis, American Psycho follows Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) an investment banker in New York in 1987 who leads a double life as a serial killer. As investigators circle Bateman after the disappearance of a colleague, he finds himself trapped in a spiral of murder and excess, unable to stop himself from giving in to his increasingly dark urges. Also stars Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Justin Theroux, and Reese Witherspoon.
- Director
- Mary Harron
- Release Date
- April 13, 2000
- Studio(s)
- Lionsgate
- Distributor(s)
- Lionsgate
- Writers
- Bret Easton Ellis , Mary Harron , Guinevere Turner
- Cast
- Jared Leto , Reese Witherspoon , Chloe Sevigny , Willem Dafoe , Justin Theroux , Christian Bale
- Runtime
- 101 minutes
- Budget
- $7 million
10 Glenn Howerton
Best Known For Roles In: It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, BlackBerry
Glenn Howerton is best known for his comedy roles in shows like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but in that role and several others, he has proven his talents for playing a layered character. Like Bale, Howerton is a classically attractive man, with strong features, and a strong physique, and he has played serious roles, alongside his more comical performances. Bateman balances a false public narrative about his life, along with a dark secret life, and Howerton could certainly prove his talents and rise to meet such a challenge.
9 Cameron Monaghan
Best Known For Roles In: Gotham, Shameless, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Cameron Monaghan is a rising star in Hollywood having had great success in TV shows, and appearing as the main protagonist in the Star Wars Jedi series of games. However, Monaghan has yet to break out in mainstream movies despite his talents. In Gotham, he played both Jeremiah and Jerome Valeska, characters who served as a precursor to the Joker. With both roles, Monaghan comfortably switched between a sensitive character, to a demonic figure who masterminded people’s suffering. Monaghan is extremely versatile as an actor, and a role like Bateman could launch his career the way it did for Bale.
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8 Lauren Cohan
Best Known For Roles In: The Walking Dead, The Boy
Lauren Cohan is another outstanding actor who showcased her talent on TV, but has yet to make it on the big screen. Cohan plays Maggie in The Walking Dead, a tough-as-nails woman who becomes one of the most capable survivors and leaders in the apocalypse, even after the brutal death of her husband. Maggie was a character that started out sweet and unassuming, but over time, she became more aggressive, prone to anger and violence. Bateman has a dual nature, and Cohan’s skills could very well match up to this role and make her a perfect fit.
7 Penn Badgely
Best Known For Roles In: You, Gossip Girl
When considering the character of Patrick Bateman, comparisons could easily be drawn between him and Joe Goldberg from You. Obsessive tendencies toward controlling people and situations around them, willing to go to any length to protect their secrets, and completely self-indulgent, chasing whatever they want most. Penn Badgely is responsible for bringing Joe Goldberg to life, and managed to create a chilling, terrifying figure, who also has a charisma and charm that viewers can’t ignore. This is another element of Bateman’s character from the novel that could be explored with Badgely in the role.
6 William Jackson Harper
Best Known For Roles In: Midsommar, The Good Place, Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania
Many of the roles William Jackson Harper has played have seen him cast as a nice guy, or overly nervous and cautious. However, tackling the role of Bateman could be a perfect opportunity to explore another side to his character, and utilize the “nice guy” persona to make him appear non-threatening. Harper already has the look of someone suave, sophisticated and successful, so allowing him to take that and build new layers into the character of Bateman could be truly great.
5 Jonathan Bailey
Best Known For Roles In: Bridgerton, Broadchurch, Wicked
Jonathan Bailey is set to have a major break in Hollywood with his upcoming role in the Wicked movies, but he has also seen success in playing roles in popular television series like Bridgerton on Netflix. Bailey has appeared in several roles playing very different characters, from an ambitious young journalist to a nobleman who experiences great loss and tragedies early in life. Bailey could potentially match the different tones of the character of Bateman to play the dissonant and disillusioned figure who struggles to maintain control of his life and surroundings.
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4 Donald Glover
Best Known For Roles In: Atlanta, Community, Childish Gambino
Donald Glover is one of the most versatile and intelligent young actors in Hollywood, with his career on a continuous upward trend. Making a name for himself on TV on shows like Community as the goofy and lovable jock, Troy Barnes, before setting out to make more satirical and serious content like Atlanta and music under the name Childish Gambino. Glover has a wealth of experience in various roles, and his talents would make him an incredible choice for a new, modern take on American Psycho’s Patrick Bateman.
3 Kieran Culkin
Best Known For Roles In: Succession, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
Kieran Culkin has risen to a new height as a celebrity after the success of Succession, but his talents could also make him the perfect fit for an even bigger satirical drama. Culkin played the loose cannon, Roman Roy, youngest son of Logan Roy, and often overlooked as a potential successor to his father’s legacy. Culkin did a tremendous job playing the less than stable character, and making them appear likable and magnetic despite their deplorable behaviors. Culkin could take this to the role of Bateman, and deliver a convincing and satisfying performance layered with duality and confusion.
2 Anna Kendrick
Best Known For Roles In: Pitch Perfect, Trolls, Up In The Air
Anna Kendrick could be a bit of a wildcard, but the potential is clearly there. Kendrick has a charming personality, the ability to play serious and more light-hearted roles, and in one film in particular, a remarkable resemblance to aspects of Bateman. Mr. Right saw Kendrick star as a woman whose life appears to be spiraling out of control. Upon meeting Sam Rockwell’s character, the two go on a mindless murder spree, indulging only their self interests, and making the audience question what is real. This resonates with Patrick Bateman, and could make her an ideal choice.
1 Robert Pattinson
Best Known For Roles In: The Batman, Tenet, Twilight
While Bale landed the role of Bateman prior to playing the superhero Batman, Robert Pattinson could have the opposite journey. Pattinson has gone from strength to strength in Hollywood since his breakout role in Twilight. His ability to play complex and layered characters could make him the perfect fit for Bateman’s double life in American Psycho. Pattinson is talented, handsome, and complex, with just enough of a dark, mysterious touch to pull off the character to a high degree of success if he were to be cast in the role.
