When Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho was published in 1991, it became a bestseller, and the film rights were purchased less than a year after the book’s release. The main character was eventually played by Christian Bale, but he entered the project only by a miracle – the studio wanted to see Leonardo DiCaprio.
After the film rights were bought out, the project remained in limbo for several years. As a result, Mary Harron, a representative of independent cinema, was chosen as the director. And in the lead role, investment banker and murderer Patrick Bateman, Christian Bale was cast. However, when studio Lionsgate joined the production, the producers decided they needed a bigger name on the posters.
When the search for a new star began, Lionsgate decided to turn to Leonardo DiCaprio, who had recently wrapped filming Titanic and become the leading movie star of the era. The actor was offered $20 million for his role in the film. Leo was interested, but Harron thought the actor was the wrong guy for the role and thought that if he played the lead the picture would have “the wrong audience”, apparently referring to enthusiastic female fans.
