New American Psycho TV Show Is In Development

Lionsgate is developing an American Psycho TV show. Bret Easton Ellis penned the original novel which was published in 1991 and went on to be a controversial sensation. Christian Bale then starred in the movie version of American Psycho, directed by Mary Harron and released in 2000.

Both book and movie focus on the character of Patrick Bateman, a shallow Wall Street investment banker whose life revolves around clothes, skin care, Phil Collins and brutally torturing and killing women. Ellis also sets up Bateman as an unreliable narrator, opening up the possibility that his killings are only happening in his head. The movie version from Harron took on a darkly comic edge as it depicted Bale’s Bateman gleefully engaging in murder while mentally unraveling. The film received mixed reviews but was successful enough to get a direct-to-video sequel called American Psycho 2 that bore almost no relation to the original.

It may indeed seem strange that something like American Psycho could come to be thought of as valuable IP, but that’s in fact the case. As reported by Deadline, Lionsgate is even developing a TV show based on the novel and movie. Lionsgate Television chairman Kevin Beggs revealed the plan in an interview with Deadline about the studio’s increasing presence on the small screen. In fact, Lionsgate reportedly had plans to make a show based on American Psycho at FX as far back as 2013, but it was long ago assumed those plans had been canceled. The show would reportedly have involved an older Bateman grooming an apprentice to carry on his murderous ways.

Lionsgate is of course already involved in expanding the John Wick universe with the TV show The Continental. They also have made a great success with Dear White People, a series version of the 2014 movie. Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, Orange is the New Black and Mythic Quest are more strong TV titles made under the studio’s umbrella.

Building out the John Wick universe with a show centered on the Continental Hotel may sound like a slightly odd proposition, but not as odd as a TV show based on American Psycho. Of course, anti-heroes have been all the rage on TV for years, so murderous Patrick Bateman perhaps won’t seem too out of place on the small screen. Indeed, if ruthless assassin Villanelle from Killing Eve can work on TV, then presumably so can Bateman. Everything depends obviously on the show’s writing, and whether the right tone can be found. Some would argue American Psycho the movie found the right tone with black comedy, though others seem to see the film as a mere mindless slasher with no redeeming value. It’s also true that American Psycho is seen by many as blatantly misogynistic, something that won’t fly on TV in this day and age. It will be fascinating to see what can be done with American Psycho as a TV show if it ever makes it through development and reaches the screen.

Source: Deadline

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