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Jared Leto wants to appear on screen as the late Playboy founder Hugh Hefner in a biopic by Brett Ratner.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Leto approached Ratner when he learned that the director got the rights to tell Hef’s story.
“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.”
Ratner revealed the movie is already in early development and he has been aiming to produce it since 2017.
Initially set up by Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment, the biopic went through a number of hands before Ratner finally won the rights. At one point, Robert Downey Jr. was considered to play Hefner.
Jared was supposed to meet Hefner back in April when he was invited to the Playboy Mansion by Ratner. Unfortunately, Hefner had not been greeting guests that day due to his failing health.
Hugh Hefner passed away at the age of 91 on Sept. 27, 2017.
Brett Ratner has been recognized for his work on the “Rush Hour” film series and “Red Dragon”, a prequel to “Silence of the Lambs”. JB
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