Jared Leto has officially signed on to portray the recently departed Playboy founder, Hugh Hefner, in a brand new biopic film. Leto, who has earned great praise for his acting roles, and an Oscar for his performance in “Dallas Buyers Club,” will take on the role of the real-life mogul.
According to Us Weekly Magazine, Brett Ratner will be taking on the movie and revealed that when Jared Leto heard about the film he immediately told the director that he wanted the role. “When he heard I got the rights to Hef’s story, he told me, ‘I want to play him. I want to understand him,'” Ratner said.
Hugh Hefner died on September 27 at the age of 91. Later, news revealed that the Playboy founder had died after suffering cardiac arrest and E. Coli and Septicemia. Hef was reportedly in failing health for months prior to his death, and had even sold the iconic Playboy mansion before his passing, with the stipulation that he would be allowed to live there without interference from the new owner until the time of his death.
Now, Jared Leto will take on the role of the pop culture icon, playing out the biggest scenes of his life on the big screen. Leto has been called a method actor and he will likely throw himself into the role of Hugh Hefner. However, some fans believe that it may be too soon after Hef’s death to already be casting an actor to play him.
What are your thoughts on Jared Leto being cast to play Hugh Hefner in a new biopic? Do you think he is the right actor to play the Playboy founder?
[Featured Image by Wikimedia Commons]