Hugh Hefner to Get Classy (Possibly Air-Brushed) Bio-Pic Treatment
Hugh Hefner is a legend. The founder of Playboy magazine has influenced many lives, and inspired many extended trips to the bathroom. So it’s no shock that he’s getting the bio-pic treatment, but the screenwriter they’re talking to might be surprising.
It’s Peter Morgan, best known for writing ‘The Queen’ and ‘Frost/Nixon.’ Morgan is the definition of the modern prestige picture, and his screenwriting has already been nominated for two Oscars. The bio-pic is being set up at Warner Brothers with Jerry Weintraub producing, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Hefner is a divisive figure, but can at least be given credit for his magazine, which was never just naked women (even if that’s why many people read the magazine, or at least snuck looks at their parent’s copies). Writers like Roald Dahl, Ray Bradbury, Haruki Murakami and Margaret Atwood all were published by Hefner, and nudity was always only a small portion of the magazine.
It’s hard to say if he’s got a great story to tell, and if Hefner has approval how deep can the film go? Censorship could be a part of the narrative, though ‘The People vs. Larry Flynt’ already covered that, and though Hefner had a number of tragedies in his life, the main drama would be his role in furthering the sexual revolution and questioning whether his work was harmful or helpful. But if Hefner’s involved, how could it be damning?
There’s some interesting hurdles for the film, but more than anything we just hope they don’t dip too heavily into the Viagra years.