An American Psycho remake: Too soon?

It's barely been a decade since Christian Bale terrified moviegoers with his career-changing turn in American Psycho. Nonetheless, Lionsgate announced Thursday that it's already planning a remake of the film, which is based on Brett Easton Ellis' 1991 novel. The original movie is a bitter and gruesome satire of yuppie excess, centered around a handsome investment banker named Patrick Bateman, who rakes in money at his prestigious Wall Street firm by day and is a gleefully sadistic killer at night. The planned remake will be written and directed by David Fincher protege Noble Jones, and will reportedly shift the original 1980s setting to the modern day. Is it smart to remake the cult classic so soon?

This sounds like a terrible idea: Sure, the 2000 version of American Psycho was "flawed in many ways," says Glen Chapman at Den of Geek. But owing to a brilliant performance from Christian Bale, the film remains "a fascinating watch." Whoever has to fill the Oscar-winner's shoes will have his work cut out for him. It's even more worrisome that an untested writer and director, Jones, will be making his feature debut with this tricky remake.

"American Psycho set for micro-budget remake?"

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And the modern setting won't work: Transporting American Psycho out of the 1980s is a horrible idea, says Eric Eisenberg at Cinema Blend. The most successful aspect of the original film was its "satirical edge." And the whole reason the 2000 version was able to maintain that air of satire was because it was set in the "yuppie culture of the go-go 1980s." A modern update would be missing that tone. "While the culture of greed obviously continues today, making the movie a period piece" is what made it interesting.

"American Psycho remake in the works, will be set in modern times"

Actually, this has potential: Perhaps we shouldn't be so quick to write this off, says Sandy Schaefer at Screen Rant. Remember, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo also started as a book, was made into a well-received film, and then was remade by David Fincher only a few years later. Now, the buzz on Fincher's soon-to-be-released movie is extremely positive. Maybe Noble, who cut his teeth working for Fincher, could actually improve on American Psycho, too.

"American Psycho reboot being developed"