Drew Starkey Won’t Confirm ‘American Psycho’ Casting, Says “The Script Is Amazing”

Drew Starkey is staying tight-lipped about reports that he may be in contention for a major role in Luca Guadagnino’s highly anticipated adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’s 1991 novel American Psycho, a casting question the actor addressed publicly without confirming or denying. In remarks reported by Deadline on August 13, Starkey offered a “no comment” when asked about the speculation, while adding that he had seen or been exposed to the project in a way that prompted a strong endorsement of its writing.

The casting chatter has focused on the character of Patrick Bateman, a central figure in the American Psycho story. Deadline reports that the possibility of Starkey teaming again with Guadagnino is being discussed amid the adaptation’s development, and that Starkey’s response did not resolve whether he is attached in any official capacity.

Starkey’s comments come after what Deadline describes as a breakout performance in Guadagnino’s Queer, released in 2024. That prior collaboration is the context for why industry observers are tracking whether the two could connect again on a follow-up project, particularly one based on a well-known, widely discussed literary property.

Guadagnino, described by Deadline as an Oscar-nominated director, has been linked to American Psycho for some time, and the project has been characterized as “highly anticipated.” While Deadline’s report frames the role question as speculation rather than an announcement, it places Starkey’s own remarks in the middle of a growing public conversation about who might play Bateman in a new screen version of the Ellis novel.

Starkey’s choice of language, according to Deadline, suggests engagement with the material without providing binding casting information. The actor reportedly did not say whether talks are in progress, whether a deal is signed, or whether his involvement is merely under consideration, but he emphasized the strength of the script by telling reporters, “The script is amazing.”

No further details about production timing, filming dates, or formal casting decisions were included in Deadline’s report, and the article does not describe an official studio casting statement tied to Starkey’s comments. For now, the only concrete development on the record is Starkey’s refusal to confirm casting while pointing to his positive view of the screenplay.

Industry expectations may shift as the adaptation progresses, but any change in casting status would likely require an announcement from the project’s production team or a formal confirmation by the actor’s representatives. Until then, Starkey’s “no comment” and his script-related praise appear to be the closest thing to an acknowledgment that he is in proximity to the American Psycho conversation, though not proof of a final on-screen agreement.

For audiences, the renewed attention highlights how fast a performer’s profile can rise after a widely noticed role, particularly when linked to a director known for distinctive projects. For the entertainment business, the moment also illustrates how literary franchises continue to generate casting interest well before official casting packages are finalized, with public answers from actors sometimes offering clues even when they do not close the question.