After the success of Titanic , Leonardo DiCaprio was “the king of the world” . Hollywood gave him carte blanche for his next role.
Fearing being trapped in the role of the young romantic lead, he decided to take the lead role in American Psycho , a particularly dark character.
Christian Bale had, however, already been chosen by director Mary Harron, in charge of the project at the time. But Leonardo DiCaprio being a thousand times more bankable, the Lionsgate studio imposed DiCaprio.
Which Mary Harron did not accept, preferring Christian Bale.
The director was therefore removed and replaced by Oliver Stone…
However, when DiCaprio and Stone met and began discussing the film and how to make it, disagreements quickly emerged.
The two men did not have the same vision of the project at all, and neither of them was ready to make any concessions.
DiCaprio therefore withdrew from the project.
Lionsgate having lost its star, Oliver Stone was no longer useful and Mary Harmon took over the project, which she would ultimately direct with Christian Bale.
As for DiCaprio, he ultimately chose to work with Danny Boyle on The Beach . A choice less radically opposed to Titanic than American Psycho .