Here’s a relatively boring, yet odd, conspiracy theory: though it was reported late last year that Austin Butler would be playing the role of Patrick Bateman in a new movie adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis novel American Psycho for Luca Guadagnino, those reports are now being disputed by none other than Bret Easton Ellis.

On a recent episode of his podcast, the writer suggested: “I have a feeling it’s fake news. I heard from somewhere, from someone, that there are no contracts. Austin Butler hasn’t signed anything to play Patrick Bateman. Luca doesn’t have a deal. Scott Burns, who is supposed to write the screenplay, doesn’t have a deal either.” The author continued, “From various sources that I have, this is just fake news that was put out there to see how an audience is going to react. If it does exist, I’m not involved. I have nothing to do with this. I might get some money if they do this, but I am not involved creatively on any level, and that is all I know.”

The hypothetical film is said to be a new adaptation of the novel and not a remake of the 2000 film by Mary Harron that starred Christian Bale. In American Psycho, “a wealthy New York City investment banking executive, Patrick Bateman, hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he delves deeper into his violent, hedonistic fantasies.”

At this point, who knows what’s true. Get the Scooby Gang on this.