Hugh Hefner’s widow has urged Jessica Biel to step away from her role in a Playboy movie. Crystal Hefner warned the lead actress to reconsider her role in the upcoming movie if it had one specific intention.
Biel recently joined the cast of Playmates, an upcoming film set at the Playboy Mansion. The actress, known for her role in The Better Sister, is set to play a fictional character who is Hugh Hefner’s wife and a former Playboy Playmate. Reports suggest that the character is fictional and is not based on any of Hefner’s real-life wives.
Following Biel’s casting announcement, the third wife of the Playboy founder, Crystal Hefner, shared a screenshot of the direct message she sent Biel outlining her concerns about the film.
Crystal urged Biel in the message, “Please reconsider playing Hugh Hefner’s ‘wife’ if this film intends to romanticize him or the Playboy world. I was actually his wife, and I experienced sexual, emotional, financial, and physical abuse in that relationship. Many other women have come forward with allegations of rape, coercion, drugging and exploitation as well.”
“There are also deeply troubling concerns involving minors. I hope everyone involved in this film takes the time to listen to the women who lived it before helping Hollywood turn it back into nostalgia.”
What do we know about the Playboy movie with Jessica Biel so far?
Searchlight Pictures’ Playmates will be written and directed by Lorraine Nicholson, whose original screenplay draws on her experiences growing up around the Playboy Mansion. The production house had previously announced its acquisition of the film package last month.
Playmates is a coming-of-age story about Elle, a 13-year-old who considers the Playboy Mansion her second home. There, she meets Anna, one of seven hopefuls competing to become Playmate of the Month. The two form an unlikely friendship and try to help each other achieve their goals.
The cast also includes Bill Pullman as Hugh Hefner. Other cast members include Lily-Rose Depp and child actress Indiana Elle.
