A novel that defines the 1990s – and a film that defines the 2000s – is being updated for the 2020s.
American Psychothe Bret Easton Ellis book that previously became a cult hit (and a breakthrough role for its star, Christian Bale) in 2000, is set to be turned into one. new film. This will be directed by Luca Guadagninothe prolific filmmaker whose recent work includes Call me by your name, Suspiria, Bones and alland this year Challengers and Queer.
According to Variety“The film, which features a screenplay by Scott Z. Burns, will not be a remake of the 2000 film, but a new adaptation of Ellis’ novel.”
(I’m not sure what the difference is between a remake of a movie adapted from a book and a new adaptation of the book, but whatever.)
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Ellis’ novel tells the story of Patrick Bateman, a wealthy businessman who is secretly a serial killer. The film version was directed by Mary Harron and written by Harron and Guinevere Turner, with Bale in the career-defining role of Patrick Bateman. With its shocking violence and tongue-in-cheek ’80s pop soundtrack, it did reasonably well at the box office upon its release, but later on home video it became arguably a canonical film of its time.
In addition to its film version American Psycho it was also adapted into a Broadway show, with songs by Duncan Sheik.
I’m not sure what else needs to be said about American Psycho This wasn’t explored in Mary Harron’s film, but Guadagnino is a great director – and with Suspiria he proved that he could take a film widely considered one of the defining films of its genre and do something new with it. So maybe lightning will strike twice.
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