While many might consider this as odd casting, some media outlets are reporting that actor Tom Cruise (Mission Impossible, Top Gun, and Jerry Maguire) is set to play Hugh Hefner, star of the reality series The Girls Next Door and founder of Playboy magazine, in his much awaited biopic, which will be produced by Universal Pictures and Brian Grazer, who won an Oscar for the film A Beautiful Mind.

Previously, Leonardo DiCaprio, award-winning actor famous for his roles in Titanic, The Aviator and Catch Me If You Can, has been rumored to portray the 81-year-old sex icon.  News surfaced when a source close to DiCaprio said that “Leo has always been interested in Hugh's life story…Leo thinks it would make a great movie and Hugh would love Leo to do it - on condition Hugh is alive to see it.”

After a couple of months, the news about Cruise's inclusion in the upcoming movie surged several media outlets, including National Ledger, monstersandcritics.com, and Splash News.

Brett Ratner, who is set to direct the flick, is reported to have sent the script to Cruise.  According to a source, “[Cruise] is eyeing the role of Hefner.  Cruise is tickled by the project, although no decision has been made."

Though there haven't been any confirmed reports on who will officially play the star of The Girls Next Door, some critics are not too thrilled with the idea of Cruise playing Hugh Hefner, saying that “Tom Cruise is not Hef material.”

Aside from his successful Playboy empire, Hefner is also known for continuing his liberal explorations and sexual escapades with his three girlfriends Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt, and Kendra Wilkinson, in his current show The Girls Next Door, which is broadcast on E!

Catch Hugh Hefner on The Girls Next Door when it returns for a fourth season this December on E!.


-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: National Ledger
(Image courtesy of Yahoo)