I recently learned about the insane backstory that led to Christian Bale starring in American Psycho. It was a wild tale, so I wanted to share it with you. He seems so perfect for the role, but it wasn't guaranteed to him. Want to hear who almost got the role and what almost happened? Let's get into it.
Mary Harron wrote the script adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' shocking novel. She understood the humor and commentary in the novel and sought to make something very satirical while still being dark - just like the novel. She had meetings with a few actors and found that Christian Bale fit the bill the best. Bale thought so, too. He REALLY wanted the part. But there was a problem: the studio did not.
Executives felt that the film needed a big star and the guy who was in Newsies wasn't a big star to them. Plus, he was pretty skinny at the time. Harron asked him to start working out to bulk up and have the physique she felt that Patrick Bateman needed to be such on the prowl in 80s Wall Street.
The executives just didn't buy Bale and they made Harron take meetings with other actors such as Edward Norton, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Leonardo DiCaprio. Bale found out about this and asked Harron what the deal was. She told him to be patient, that she had to take these meetings but the part was going to be his. So he waited it out, but it wasn't easy.
Leo was the top pick for financiers of the movie, but Harron felt he was SO wrong for the role. Not only that, but his post-Titanic fan base was mostly teen girls who were madly in love with him. Why would he want to ruin that and play a serial killer?
Even though Harron warned him about the character, DiCaprio was interested. She hated this and refused to cast him, figuring that the executives needed her to make the movie. She was wrong. They fired her and hired Oliver Stone!
Stone had too many demands and executives soon saw the potential budget ballooning. They eventually did go back to Harron who was still being strong-armed into casting DiCaprio. Bale called Norton and begged him not to take the role, but that wasn't the thing that cast Bale. You'll never guess what got him the part: Gloria Steinem.
Oh, and one quick aside - Bale was STILL training and preparing as if he was getting the role. People told him not to, but he wouldn't listen. He was determined and he believed that it would all come back to him. Does he practice witchcraft or something? Because that's what happened!
Gloria Steinem knew all about this and took matters into her own hands. She went to a baseball game with Leo and talked him out of the role, reminding him that a role like this could ruin his image and his career. Honestly? She may have been right! It is a great film, but can you really picture Leo doing it? Norton or Affleck, maybe. But late 90s DiCaprio? His career would sink faster than Jack in the ocean.
Why Gloria? Well, she may have had a vested interest in the casting of the project. In 2000, she married Christian Bale's dad. They were only married for three years, but it was Gloria's only marriage. Was she protecting her stepson? That's the kind of shrewd strategy that would impress Patrick Bateman!
Luckily, all of the pieces fell into place. Christian Bale became Patrick Bateman. He became buff and got notoriety for being a well-respected actor. Critics were divided on the film at the time, but quickly came around to it. American Psycho is now an American classic and that's all thanks to Mary Harron. Actually, it's due to Gloria Steinem. So, I guess, thank you feminism?
