Despite circulating rumors, the much-anticipated reimagining of ‘American Psycho’ will not feature a gender-swapped lead.

Speculation emerged over the weekend suggesting that Margot Robbie was set to star in the remake of the 2000 cult classic directed by Luca Guadagnino.

The original film, which featured Christian Bale, was adapted from the 1991 novel by Bret Easton Ellis.

According to a report from Deadline, claims of a female-led version of ‘American Psycho’ have been debunked.

Although the official cast has not been revealed, there is buzz that Austin Butler is in line to take on the iconic role.

American Psycho is being adapted by Scott Z. Burns, who is best known for penning 2011’s Contagion and Matt Damon’s The Bourne Ultimatum. 

Based on the 1991 novel, American Psycho follows an image-obsessed investment banker who leads a double life as a serial killer.

Both the novel and film were met with considerable backlash upon release due to graphic depictions of violence.

Margot Robbie will not be starring in a gender-swapped American Psycho remake despite reports claiming otherwise

Italian director Luca Guadagnino is working on a reimagining of the 2000 film, which starred Christian Bale and is based on the 1991 Bret Easton Ellis novel

‘A remake of American Psycho is in the works and Margot is in the frame to play a female version of Patrick Bateman,’ a film source told The Sun last week

Movie fans were outraged by the rumors, with many taking to social media over the weekend to blast the idea, while claiming that replacing the male lead with a female wouldn’t ‘work.’ 

Others announced that they wouldn’t be watching the new version if the ‘woke’ move was made.

‘The gender swap is completely redundant because the original film was already directed by a woman from a feminist lens,’ wrote one.

‘This is forced and shows whoever is in charge of this film had the original go over their head.’ 

‘American Psycho’s protagonist should be a man. The point is that Patrick Bateman has the most toxic masculinity known to man going on. How is a woman supposed to portray that?’ asked a second.

‘The book, and subsequent movie, as explained by the author itself, is how a gay man perceives the concept of masculinity. Zero chance a “gender swapped” version works,’ wrote another.

A fourth commented,’ Hollywood is dead. What happened to studios taking risks with directors with visions? What happened to truly original content? 

While official casting has yet to be announced, Austin Butler is said to be taking on the coveted role

‘The crap coming out today doesn’t justify spending a small fortune to see something on the big screen.’

Others pointed out that a gender-swapped American Psycho was already done in 2002 in the critically-panned sequel American Psycho 2, starring Mila Kunis.  

It was reported in December that Elvis star Butler would be taking on the role of serial killer Patrick Bateman in the upcoming reimagining.

Kerry Barden, who was the casting director on the original film, slammed the decision and said that there was another role which would have been more suited for Butler. 

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he said: ‘I would cast Austin in Jared [Leto]’s role because he’s that beautiful, and that’s why we cast Jared, is because he’s that beautiful.’

Of course, Jared Leto played Bateman’s enemy and victim, Paul Allen, in the hit horror film.

Kerry added to the publication: ‘Jared is certainly a great actor as well, and obviously, Austin has a lot of depth as an actor, too.

‘But not every person has that kind of beauty.’ 

Fans of the original American Psycho film were not best pleased when the new project was first announced, with some saying it simply wasn’t needed.

Taking to X at the time, one said, ‘I’m sorry, we do NOT need a new American Psycho film.

‘I don’t care if Patrick Bateman himself is directing. No! Let something be sacred still.’

Another raged, ‘I am kind of the opinion that Mary Harron’s American Psycho is so perfect that another adaptation seems pointless though.’