Jared Leto to Portray Playboy Founder Hugh Hefner in New Biopic

Oscar-winner Jared Leto will soon be fitted for a velvet smoking robe, pajamas and pipe.

According to Variety, the actor has signed on to play Playboy founder and editor Hugh Hefner in an as-yet-untitled biopic. The project will be directed by Brett Ratner, who produced Oscar-winning film The Revenant and helmed X-Men: The Last Stand.

The project had been tabled but was resurrected back in April, and it couldn’t be better timing: Hefner died just days ago on Sept. 27, so it’ll make for a fitting tribute.

Per Variety, Hefner gave his blessing to the project before he passed away. Said Hefner: “In recent years there has been plenty of interest and much conversation about doing a feature film based on my life. I have always believed that when the timing was truly right, the perfect creative partners would come together for this project. I believe we’ve found those partners in Brett Ratner and RatPac Entertainment. I’m very much looking forward to this collaboration.”