Entertainment
17 Actors Who Almost Starred In 'America Psycho' — Because Christian Bale Wasn't Always A Shoo-In For Patrick Bateman
The journey of getting Bret Easton Ellis's novel American Psycho to the screen was almost as harrowing as the tale of Patrick Bateman. OK, it wasn't as extreme as the yuppie '80s Wall Street serial killer taking New York City by ax and chainsaw, but many famous actors were almost in American Psycho. Now 15 years after it was released, American Psycho is a cult classic film that stars the incomparable Christian Bale as Bateman. After rewatching the film for its 15-year anniversary, I can confirm with 100 percent certainty that Bale was perfect as the suave, toned, tanned, and insane Bateman.
The road to get American Psycho to the screen was bumpy. Director Mary Harron wanted Bale as Bateman, but the studio behind the film, Lions Gate, wanted Leonardo DiCaprio for the part. Harron refused to meet with DiCaprio and because of the dispute, other big-name (male) directors were considered. The likes of Jonathan Demme, Stanley Kubrick, Danny Boyle, and Martin Scorsese were all discussed, but eventually DiCaprio dropped out and Harron and Bale were brought back in. The rest is psychotic history.
Many actors were looked at for Bateman (before and after Bale and DiCaprio), but other characters weren't safe from recasting either. So here are all of the people who were close to being in American Psycho — from early rumored contenders to the stars who were almost cast. (Even though fans of the film can agree the finished product's cast is pretty flawless.)
Image: Lions Gate Films
Johnny Depp
As the unconventional young actor of the 1990s, it should be really come as no surprise that Johnny Depp was interested in the part of Bateman back in 1992. Stuart Gordon (who really doesn’t have any notable films under his belt even to this day) was a potential director when Depp was in talks to star. (And Depp and DiCaprio were costars in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.)
Edward Norton
In Harron’s interview with The Guardian, she said how Lions Gate wanted anyone but Bale for the part of Bateman (what fools!). And Edward Norton, fresh off of Fight Club , was one of the bigger names that the studio wanted. I love me some Edward Norton, but Bale was an unstoppable force as Batman … errr, I mean Bateman.
Brad Pitt
Speaking of Fight Club, Project Casting wrote that after director Gordon was off the movie, David Cronenberg was supposed to direct — with Brad Pitt to have starred as Bateman. Cronenberg would have been a good fit actually since he isn’t afraid of graphic violence (or nudity) as his 2007 film Eastern Promises demonstrated. And with Pitt having already done Fight Club, it wouldn’t have been a huge stretch for him either.
Ewan McGregor
Paste Magazine (along with IMDb) stated that Ewan McGregor was offered the part of Patrick Bateman, but that Bale personally asked him not to take the role. Fellow men of the U.K. gotta stick together, amiright?
Billy Crudup
Now when Harron was initially set to direct but hadn’t chosen Bale yet, she had a list of actors she wanted for the role. IMDb says that Billy Crudup was actually offered the role of Bateman, but turned it down. He later portrayed other-Bateman-nominee Ewan McGregor’s son in Big Fish.
Jonny Lee Miller
Going off the McGregor theme, McGregor’s costar in Trainspotting, Jonny Lee Miller, was apparently also on Harron’s original list for Bateman. During that time though he may have been dealing with his own personal issues since his marriage to Angelina Jolie ended in 1999.
Johnathon Schaech
Perhaps best known for being the grumpy songwriter in the most delightful movie ever, That Thing You Do!, IMDb claims that Johnathon Schaech was in early consideration to portray Bateman by Harron too. Like Miller, he has a famous ex-wife — Christina Applegate. (Although the couple was married in 2001 — a year after American Psycho came out.)
Robert Sean Leonard
Another actor that Harron had on her preliminary list was Robert Sean Leonard. Although he was on TV in the 2000s in House, Leonard was a star of the screen in the 1990s by playing moral, yet troubled teenagers. Don’t believe me? Check out Dead Poets Society and more importantly (for this slideshow at least), 1993’s Swing Kids — where he battles with his conscience after his best friend joins the German Hitler Youth. And guess who portrays his Nazi best friend? None other than a fresh-faced Bale.
Ben Chaplin
I first was introduced to the British Ben Chaplin in 1996’s romcom The Truth About Cats & Dogs in a much different role than Patrick Bateman. But Chaplin was again one of those men on the initial list of actors by Harron. And hey, don’t get mad that this Brit was considered for American Psycho since Bale himself was born in Wales.
James Woods
Although Bateman is the leading man of the story, he isn’t the only character in American Psycho. When Harron was off the project over the DiCaprio argument, Oliver Stone was hired to direct. In his version, the voice of Hades himself (at least in Disney’s Hercules), James Woods, would have been Detective Kimball (the officer investigating the murder of Paul Allen). Coincidentally, the man who took the role of Kimball, Willem Dafoe, also voiced a Disney (and Pixar) animated character — Gill in Finding Nemo. Shark Bait hoo ha ha!
Cameron Diaz
In 1998, the LA Times reported that Cameron Diaz had been at a read through of the American Psycho script with DiCaprio. Reese Witherspoon ended up playing Bateman’s oblivious fiancée Evelyn, but when DiCaprio was supposed to star, Diaz was going to be Evelyn. It’s all good though, you guys. The pair of DiCaprio and Diaz played opposite each other in Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York. (Another fun connection: Witherspoon and American Psycho costar Josh Lucas would work together again in Sweet Home Alabama.)
Shannen Doherty
IMDb’s trivia page says that at another point in the long history of American Psycho, Stone wouldn’t have directed the film, but he would have been an executive producer. Rob Weiss would have taken over as director and he had planned on casting the troublemaking Shannen Doherty as Evelyn. Although these changes didn’t go down, Weiss was a co-producer of the finished film.
Drew Barrymore
I don’t have a definitive source about this casting rumor (IMDb doesn’t really count), but Drew Barrymore was allegedly thought of for a female role in the movie. Patrick Bateman sure did have an affinity for blondes, so it could have worked. Maybe she would have taken Chloë Sevigny’s part, Jean? (Although IMDb said that even Stone wanted to keep Sevigny, so she’s possibly the only actor to have maintained her role throughout all the shake-ups.)
Liv Tyler
Liv Tyler was another actress that IMDb vaguely referred to as being looked at for a female role in the movie. Who knew that years later she’d be starring opposite American Psycho alum Justin Theroux in HBO’s The Leftovers years later?
Elizabeth Berkley
When Stone was going to direct, IMDb says that Saved By The Bell’s Elizabeth Berkley was going to take the role of Bateman’s side girlfriend Courtney. Of course, this wouldn’t have been that scandalous of a decision since Berkley had already been in Showgirls , which came out in 1995. While seeing Leonardo DiCaprio and the artist formerly known as Jessie Spano onscreen together would have been a dream come true, the casting in the final film makes me giddy. Samantha Mathis played Courtney and she also portrayed grown-up Amy in the 1997 Little Women movie, where she ended up marrying … (wait for it) Christian Bale’s character Laurie. My movie connection-loving heart wants to burst!
Jared Leto
Going back to the titular Psycho, one other possibility for the role of Bateman was none other than Jared Leto. But Leto fans didn’t have to fret about a missed opportunity since Leto played Bateman’s main nemesis in the film, Paul Allen. Since American Psycho, both Leto and Bale have won Best Supporting Actor Oscars — Leto for Dallas Buyers Club and Bale for The Fighter. Not too shabby, guys. Seems like they both made the right choice with sticking with American Psycho, so where’s your Oscar, Leo? (Just kidding, Leo. I love you always and forever.)
Image: Lions Gate Films