It’s true what they say about life moving a little faster in LA, as award-winning multi-hyphenate, Jared Leto, is slated to star as the recently deceased Hugh Hefner in an upcoming Playboy biopic. The rights of Hefner’s life story was acquired from Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment with names like Robert Downey Jr. and Hugh Jackman originally attached. It is now under the ownership of Brett Ratner, director of the Rush Hour films, who will helm this project.
“Jared is an old friend,” said Ratner. “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.”
Given Leto’s reputation as a committed method actor, like in the instances of rather anti-social behaviour demonstrated during the filming of Suicide Squad, one can only imagine how he will prepare for this role. The Dallas Buyers Club actor was initially set to meet with Hefner, but failed to arrange it before his passing.
“Hugh Hefner started a sexual revolution from behind the walls of his legendary mansion by using the pages of Playboy magazine an his own infamous lifestyle to build a global empire that included publishing, clubs, casinos and television networks,” Ratner elaborated. “My goal is to do the motion picture as an event.”
Leto has been keeping busy these days, having also recently announced the on-going process of releasing a new 30 Seconds to Mars album, as well as undertaking a role in the soon-to-be released Blade Runner 2049.
