If the malevolent Sweeney Todd can sing, why not Patrick Bateman, the twisted title character of Bret Easton Ellis's American Psycho?

A stage adaptation of Ellis's celebrated novel about a handsome, homicidal Wall Street banker is in the works.

The musical will feature a score by Spring Awakening composer Duncan Sheik and a book by playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, currently writing for the HBO television series Big Love.

Sheik said Tuesday in a statement that he had reread Ellis's novel and "what some people (including myself) may have seen as an over-the-top literary folly of the early '90s was in fact a pretty timeless tale of alienation.

"And, really, what could be more subversive fun than murderous bankers breaking into song?"

Christian Bale starred as Bateman in a 2000 film version of the novel.

There is no word on when or where the stage show will open.

The musical is to be produced by the Johnson-Roessler Company's David Johnson, Craig Roessler and Jesse Singer as well as by Aaron Ray of The Collective, a management and production company, and Nate Bolotin of XYZ Films.