Jared Leto to play Hugh Hefner in biopic

Los Angeles: Hugh Hefner, who died on September 27 at the age of 91, is getting a biopic with Oscar-winning actor Jared Leto playing the Playboy founder.

To be directed by "Rush Hour"-fame Brett Ratner, the film is currently in early development, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"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," Ratner, 48, said.

The director is also onboard as a producer with his banner, RatPac Entertainment.

Hefner's life has always fascinated producers as there plans to make a biopic on him since 2007. The film was initially set up at Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment and later the rights were bought by Jerry Weintraub.

Ratner snapped up the rights from Weintraub.

The director had invited Leto the Playboy Mansion for the premiere of Amazon's docuseries "American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story" but the media mogul could not meet the actor due to ill health.

Ratner, however, believes it would not be hard for Leto to channel the silk pyjama and smoking jacket wearing Hefner as there is enough footage for research.

Hefner revolutionised the publishing scene in the US by launching his niche men's magazine in 1953. The magazine had interviews and articles of some of the biggest literary names, along with a centrefold featuring nude pictures of women as its special feature.