Benjamin Walker to star in 'American Psycho' on Broadway

Benjamin Walker is to star in the Broadway musical American Psycho this winter, the show's producers announced Thursday.

Previews are to begin Feb. 19 at a Shubert Theatre to be announced. An official opening night is planned for March 21.

Best known for his work in the stagings of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Walker will play Patrick Bateman, the role made famous by Christian Bale in the 2000 film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' novel.

The Broadway version of American Psycho features music and lyrics by Tony Award-winner Duncan Sheik, marking Sheik's first new show to come to Broadway since Spring Awakening opened in 2006. The new musical has a book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Rupert Goold will direct American Psycho and Lynne Page will choreograph it.

The 1980s Manhattan-set show will be presented on Broadway by Act 4 Entertainment, Jeffrey Richards, and Jerry Frankel in cooperation with Edward R. Pressman.

"I've been a huge fan of Ben's work on stage and screen and am really looking forward to working with him on American Psycho," Goold said in a statement. "He is an enormous talent and I think audiences will be utterly seduced by his dangerous charisma and extraordinary stage presence. He'll make a killer Patrick Bateman."

"Ever since Ben ignited the musical theater with his startling and superb performance in Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson, I had hoped to work with him again," added Richards. "When Jerry Frankel and I were offered the opportunity to join David Johnson and Jesse Singer of Act 4 Entertainment in presenting American Psycho, my first thought was that the most charismatic and sexy actor for the role of Patrick Bateman would be... Benjamin Walker. The gift of collaborative partners is that we were all in agreement... and so for that matter, as I found out, was the entire creative team."

The world premiere production of American Psycho played at the Almeida Theatre in London from Dec. 3, 2013 through Feb. 1, 2014.