While Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming American Psycho remake remains officially uncast, one name keeps surfacing — and it happens to match the character’s. Patrick Schwarzenegger has made no secret of his interest in playing Patrick Bateman, the sharply dressed, ice-cold investment banker at the heart of Bret Easton Ellis’ dark satire. As casting talks quietly build, Schwarzenegger has stepped forward once again to show his interest in the role.
Responding to a social media post suggesting the role could mark his breakout moment, Schwarzenegger replied, "I’d love nothing more," punctuated with a wink. It’s not his first Bateman-related moment: when news of Guadagnino’s adaptation first broke last autumn, he called the project "my dream". And in 2021, he channelled Bateman for a Vanity Fair photoshoot — slick hair, suit and all.
Guadagnino has praised Ellis’ novel as a formative influence and says the new script, penned by Scott Z. Burns, is shaping up "handsomely". While casting remains under wraps, speculation has circled actors like Austin Butler. Still, Schwarzenegger’s persistence — boosted by his well-received turn in The White Lotus — makes him a contender worth watching.
No blood has been spilled yet, but in the world of American Psycho, ambition is always part of the game — and Schwarzenegger seems more than ready to play.
