LONDON: Margot Robbie is in advanced talks to play a female version of Patrick Bateman in a planned remake of American Psycho, British tabloid The Sun reported on Friday, citing a film industry source.
The source told The Sun that producers are aiming to “twist the narrative” of Bret Easton Ellis’s controversial 1991 novel by recasting the lead as a woman, and that casting Robbie — currently one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars — would give the project a new angle. The report stressed that details were still being “ironed out”.
Remake plans, director attached
News of a remake first surfaced in 2024 when Deadline reported that Lionsgate was developing a new version of the story and that director Luca Guadagnino had been approached.
At the time, Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said the studio was “thrilled to add another elite filmmaker to our upcoming slate” and praised Guadagnino as “a brilliant artist” to forge a fresh interpretation of the property.
Original film and controversy
Directed by Mary Harron and released in 2000, American Psycho starred Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, a Wall Street yuppie who hides a murderous alter ego.
Both the novel and the film provoked debate on their depiction of violence and materialism, and critics have long described the source material as controversial and, in some readings, misogynistic.
The reported gender swap for the remake appears aimed at reframing that debate, the Sun source said.
Robbie’s filmography and recent projects
Robbie, 35, has played a string of high-profile roles, from The Wolf of Wall Street and Harley Quinn in the Suicide Squad franchise to the title role in Barbie.
The Sun report noted she recently completed filming on an adaptation of Wuthering Heights, directed by Emerald Fennell, which is due for release in February 2026.
Robbie has previously parodied American Psycho in a short film made for Vogue, and in recent interviews she has spoken candidly about imposter syndrome and the pressures of sustaining a high-profile career, remarks reported by The Mirror.
