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Luca Guadagnino to Direct New American Psycho Adaptation

Filmmaker Luca Guadagnino is in final negotiations for a new interpretation of the Bret Easton Ellis book American Psycho for Lionsgate with a script by Scott Z. Burns. Rather than a remake, the film will be a new adaptation of Ellis’s novel.

The book was previously adapted by director Mary Harron from a screenplay by Harron & Guinevere Turner, with Christian Bale starring.

Luca Guadagnino to Direct New American Psycho Adaptation

The Lionsgate film will be produced by Frenesy Films and executive produced by Sam Pressman, the son of Edward R. Pressman, producer of the first adaptation, through his company Pressman Film.

“We are thrilled to add another elite filmmaker to our upcoming slate,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson. “Luca is a brilliant artist and the perfect visionary to create a whole new interpretation of this potent and classic IP.”

Luca Guadagnino’s most recent film, Challengers, starring Zendaya, opened in first place at the box office, and his next film, Queer, starring Daniel Craig, will be released by A24 on November 27. He’s currently in post-production on After the Hunt, starring Julia Roberts.

His previous work includes I Am Love, Suspiria, Bones and All, A Bigger Splash, and the Oscar-winning Call Me By Your Name. Luca Guadagnino is represented by CAA, Range Media Partners, and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher.

Scott Z. Burns most recently created the Apple TV+ limited series Extrapolations. His many feature film screenwriting credits include The Report, Side Effects, and The Bourne Ultimatum. It was also recently announced that Burns will create the series Thumblite for Netflix and Media Res with Roasmund Pike to star.

UTA, Range Media Partners, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein represent Burns.