Originally published October 3, 2017. Updated April 18, 2018.
Though Playboy founder Hugh Hefner only passed away a few days ago, a biopic is already in the works and an actor has been found. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Blade Runner 2049 and Suicide Squad’s Jared Leto will portray Hefner in a film directed by Brett Ratner.
Ratner, who has been eyeing this film for a decade and gained the rights in 2015, will also produce through his RatPac Entertainment company. “My goal is to do the motion picture as an event,” he said.
Speaking on Leto’s casting, Ratner also said “Jared is an old friend. When he heard I got the rights to Hef’s story, he told me, ‘I want to play him. I want to understand him.’ And I really believe Jared can do it. He’s one of the great actors of today.”
Leto is known for his method acting and getting deep into a character he’s playing, such as his controversial stunts on Suicide Squad, and Ratner had hoped to introduce him to Hefner a few months ago, but Hefner was not in good enough health to greet guests at the Playboy Mansion.
“There’s enough footage on Hef out there that Jared will be able to get as much information as he wants,” Ratner said.
No word on when production on Hefner’s biopic will begin, but Leto is also thought to be reprising his role as The Joker in Suicide Squad 2 and the Joker and Harley Quinn film.
