Hollywood Flashback: Christian Bale Went ‘Psycho’ After DiCaprio Bailed

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25 years ago, director Mary Harron’s “American Psycho” attempted to mock yuppie culture through satire. The film stars Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, an investment banker in 1980s New York City who hides his murderous impulses, and is based on Bret Easton Ellis’ contentious novel. Initially, the book was rejected by its original publisher in 1990 but later became a best-seller. Director Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator) initially wanted Johnny Depp for the lead role, but when Lionsgate acquired the project, David Cronenberg was among the directors considered before Harron (I Shot Andy Warhol) was chosen. Harron wasn’t familiar with the book, but she found the violence troubling. However, she felt it was important to explore 1980s consumerism. “From the beginning,” producer Alessandro Camon told The Hollywood Reporter, “Mary had a very clear vision of the tone. She always saw it as a dark comedy and a period piece.

In my enthusiasm to rework the script, I recruited screenwriter Guinevere Turner, whom I had collaborated with on The Notorious Bettie Page. Regarding the role of Bateman, Billy Crudup initially signed up but later realized he wasn’t suitable. Christian Bale, a former child actor who had recently completed several independent films, caught my attention during his audition. However, I was taken aback when Lionsgate announced at Cannes in 1998 that Leonardo DiCaprio, fresh from the success of Titanic, would take on the lead role – a choice I strongly disagreed with and ultimately led to my dismissal, with Oliver Stone stepping in. In the end, DiCaprio departed to work on The Beach, and Bale and I were reinstated. The cast was completed by Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Chloë Sevigny, Reese Witherspoon, and others. Lionsgate released the movie on April 14, 2000, earning a modest $34 million ($63 million in current terms).

American Psycho, a film once overlooked, has gained significant popularity among younger generations, largely due to social media memes. Actor Bill Sage, who portrayed one of Bateman’s colleagues and was present during Stone’s initial reading, expressed his thoughts on the movie: “It wouldn’t be the classic it is today if it hadn’t been in Mary’s hands.” Now, this iconic film will receive a fresh interpretation from director Luca Guadagnino, as hinted at his recent teaser for Lionsgate at CinemaCon.

You can find this tale in the April 16 edition of The Hollywood Reporter periodical. If you’d like to receive similar updates, consider subscribing by clicking here.

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2025-04-18 20:54