Move over, Johnny Depp!
It sounds like the next big male star to come to Chicago could be Robert Downey Jr., if he lands the role of Hugh Hefner in a big-screen biopic now in the works.
It’s not a 100 percent done deal, but sources say Hefner has signed off on Downey to play him in the movie, with the working title “Playboy.”
He took a liking to the actor after seeing “Iron Man” and admiring his humor and skill in showing his vulnerability.
Chicago is expected to be used for the shooting of scenes focusing on the early years of Playboy magazine. A Chicago native, Hefner grew up in Galewood and launched Playboy here before moving the California.
No word yet on when the cameras actually will begin rolling, but it could happen as soon as next summer — depending on Downey’s “Iron Man 2″ filming and the finalization of the Hefner script.
With “Iron Man” a box-office smash, Downey is very much in demand. A representative for the actor said he’s interested in the Hefner project but is unlikely to commit to it until a script is done and a director is named.
Brett Ratner (”Rush Hour”), announced last year as the “Playboy” director, is no longer attached to the project but may return to it. Brian Grazer is among the film’s producers.
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