Tom Cruise to Play Hugh Hefner

Fri, 16 November 2007 04:35:17 ET

Tom Cruise to Play Hugh Hefner
Tom Cruise is set to play Hugh Hefner in a new biopic of the Playboy founder's life. The 45-year-old actor, who has an 18-month-old daughter Suri with his actress wife Katie Holmes, is hot favorite to portray the 81-year-old Lothario in upcoming movie 'Playboy' and is reportedly excited about the prospect of bringing Hefner's "colorful life" to the big screen.

A source close to the actor said: "Tom knows of Hugh's colorful past and thinks he would be the perfect person to bring it to the big screen. He also thinks the role would be a challenge for him, and would remind people of his versatility as an actor. At the moment people are concentrating on his personal life, and his marriage to Katie - but he wants to remind them that he can act too."

A spokesperson for the star has refused to confirm whether he has accepted the part. They said: "A lot of people consider Tom for a lot of roles."

Leonardo DiCaprio - a frequent visitor to Hugh's famous Playboy mansion in Los Angeles - has also been linked to the role. 'X-Men: The Last Stand' director Brett Ratner has reportedly signed on to direct the film.