HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Warner Bros has taken control of “Playboy,” a movie about the life of Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner.
The biopic — originally slated as a Universal and Imagine Entertainment film — will now be produced by Hollywood veteran Jerry Weintraub.
According to reports, the movie has been stalled for several years despite having Brett Ratner tapped to helm the project and stars Robert Downey Jr. and Hugh Jackman mentioned as possible actors to play the iconic Hefner.
It’s not clear how much of Hefner’s life will be portrayed in the film but Hefner himself hinted recently that a major studio was interested in his life “and the start of the sexual revolution.”
The new producer dispelled rumors that Harry Potter writer Steve Kloves will pen the project.
Weintraub’s film credits include “Ocean’s Eleven,” “The Karate Kid” and “National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation.”
He also authored his memoir, “When I Stop Talking, You’ll Know I’m Dead: Useful Stories from a Persuasive Man,” that was made into the HBO movie, “His Way.”
This would be the first feature film about the legendary Hefner.
Playboy's own Alta Loma Entertainment released the pseudo documentary, "Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time," in 1992 in conjunction with Lynch/Frost productions.
An independent Canadian documentary, "Hugh Hefner, Playboy, Activist and Rebel," written and directed by Brigitte Berman was relased in 2010.
