American Psycho

2022 - 10 - 5

Post cover — Image courtesy of "The A.V. Club"

American Psycho director Mary Harron fought to cast Christian Bale ... (The A.V. Club)

The actor was on the verge of having his house repossessed while playing one of his most iconic roles.

Christian Bale Says He Made Less on 'American Psycho' Than the ... (IndieWire)

Christian Bale also said he was cast only after Leonardo DiCaprio turned down the lead role of "American Psycho."

Christian Bale Sarcastically 'Thanked' Leonardo DiCaprio for His ... (StyleCaster)

Christian Bale explained how he felt towards Leonardo DiCaprio in a new GQ article and fans are wondering if they have a rivalry.

American Psycho Director Had To Fight To Cast Christian Bale (Screen Rant)

Christian Bale reveals that the director of 2000 film American Psycho, Mary Harron, was the only person that wanted him cast as Patrick Bateman.

Fighting for the role of Bateman paid off for Bale as well, despite a short career slump that followed the controversial film. Known for his talents as a chameleon, Bale had the unique ability to bring Harron's vision of the character to life, allowing the film to remain a satire rather than the heady psychological drama an actor like DiCaprio may have brought to the table. Despite the actor's many credits as a child and young adult actor prior to his American Psycho casting, he states that only Harron wanted him in the film. Bale's casting ended up being key to the film's long-term success, since Harron's adaptation hinged on his ability to bring the larger-than-life character to life, balancing the darkly comic elements of the film with its status as a thriller. However, he wasn't the first choice for the role, with previous reports revealing that Leonardo DiCaprio was one of the leading contenders for the part of Bateman. Based on the 1991 novel of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis, [American Psycho centers on Patrick Bateman](https://screenrant.com/american-psycho-movie-patrick-bateman-casting-not-dicaprio-reason/), an investment banker who leads a double life as a serial killer.

Christian Bale was paid 'absolute minimum' to be in 'American Psycho' (INSIDER)

The actor told GQ that times were so tough around when he was crafting the now iconic role that his house was on the verge of being repossessed.

Was just: 'I got to get enough that the house doesn't get repossessed.'" - "Nobody wanted me to do it except the director," Bale told GQ. "So the first thing was: 'Holy crap. "I had a house that I was sharing with my dad and my sister and that was getting repossessed," he revealed. I was still prepping for it." I was prepping for it when other people were playing the part.

Christian Bale Was Paid "Absolute Minimum" to Play Patrick ... (Decider)

Christian Bale says he was paid the least amount possible to play Patrick Bateman in 'American Psycho' after the role was first given to Leonardo DiCaprio.

I had one of those people actually tell me that.” At the time of his casting, Bale was sharing a house with his dad and sister “that was getting repossessed,” he explained, adding, “So the first thing was: ‘Holy crap. All those people that I’ve worked with multiple times, they all offered every one of those roles to him first. Was just: ‘I got to get enough that the house doesn’t get repossessed.'” It doesn’t matter what anyone tells you,” he said of DiCaprio. When they did finally agree to Bale’s casting, he was paid a paltry sum for what’s now one of his most iconic roles.

Christian Bale tried to fight threatening American Psycho hater (The Digital Fix)

Christian Bale has played some tough guys through the years; from John Connor in the Terminator franchise, a whole host of deadly cowboys in various ...

Or, take a look at our rundown of the [best Marvel villains](https://www.thedigitalfix.com/best-marvel-villains) to see if Bale makes the list. The [thriller movie](https://www.thedigitalfix.com/best-thriller-movies) was highly controversial due to its source material though, and provoked a heated response from sections of the general public when filming was announced. Bale clearly doesn’t shy away from a fight in real life either, as he recalled a time when he tried to confront someone who threatened him while making the [2000s movie](https://www.thedigitalfix.com/the-best-2000s-movies) American Psycho. “I remember somebody warned me, must have been a friend of mine who was crazy early on the internet,” Bale said. I kept walking up and down it going ‘Where are they?’ But nothing ever happened,” he added. [Terminator](https://www.thedigitalfix.com/terminator) franchise, a whole host of deadly cowboys in various [Westerns](https://www.thedigitalfix.com/best-westerns), and even spending a large chunk of his career as Batman.