Andrew Garfield's latest photoshoot for GQ has reignited fan speculation that he could be cast as Patrick Bateman in Luca Guadagnino's long-gestating American Psycho remake. The 43-year-old actor posed for a series of images that fans online believe are a soft-launch for him to take on the role famously played by Christian Bale in the 2000 adaptation.
Garfield and Guadagnino are currently promoting their new OpenAI film Artificial, which has received strong reviews on the festival circuit, after collaborating last year on the Julia Roberts social thriller After the Hunt.
Fans spot Bateman parallels
The photos, taken by Richard Burbridge and styled by George Cortina, feature Garfield in pinstripe suits and sharp shirts with colour-contrasting collars, giving off corporate '90s energy. One image shows him in a Saint Laurent latex-look black trench coat with black leather gloves, reminiscent of Bateman's transparent raincoat worn to keep his suit immaculate while committing violent acts.
The cover image, however, is what truly sold the theory: Garfield skipping with a rope in white boxers, shoes and socks, with slicked-back hair and an intense expression. This closely mirrors a famous sequence from the 2000 film directed by Mary Harron.
Fans quickly took to social media to comment on the 'patrick batemanifying' of the actor. One user tweeted: 'Is that…….. PATRICK BATEMAN??????' while another wrote: 'Basically a test run for American Psycho lmaoooo.' A third said: 'Not the Patrick Bateman tease,' and another agreed: 'Looks like American Psycho. Maybe Andrew Garfield is Luca Guadagnino's pick.'
Guadagnino's changing stance
If true, this would mark a positive update for the film, which was publicly announced more than two years ago. Last month, Guadagnino appeared less committed to the project, telling Vulture: 'Maybe one day I would do.'
During CinemaCon in May 2025, however, the director had expressed enthusiasm, saying in a video segment: 'We are really working hard to bring to the screen a new adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' American Psycho, a book that I deeply love that is something that influenced me so much.' He added that writer Scott Z. Burns was 'doing an incredible job' and that the script was 'coming out very handsomely'.
Guadagnino also teased that he was 'in conversation with very exciting performers to play the leads', though no names were shared at the time.
Cast rumours and new direction
In December 2024, it was reported that Austin Butler would play Bateman after rumours of Jacob Elordi's involvement, but author Ellis later claimed that 'a couple of high-profile actors' had already passed on the movie.
If the film goes ahead, it will not be a direct remake of the 2000 movie. Guadagnino's version is poised to be a new take on the story with a more significant erotic emphasis than the original. There may also be room to adjust the age bracket, as Bateman is 27 in the novel, while Garfield is in his 40s.
Lionsgate film chief Adam Fogelson previously described the director as the 'perfect visionary' to helm the new cinematic iteration, stating: 'We are thrilled to add another elite filmmaker to our upcoming slate. Luca is a brilliant artist, and the perfect visionary to create a whole new interpretation of this potent and classic IP.'
The full cover interview is available in GQ's Men of the Year issue and on GQ.com.
