Cruise to star as Hugh Hefner in movie?

Tom Cruise is being lined up to portray Playboy founder Hugh Hefner in a biopic, according to reports.

The Mission Impossible star has become the favourite to take the role in the film about the 81-year-old's life.

A source revealed: "Tom knows of Hugh's colourful past and thinks he would be the perfect person to bring it to the big screen.

"He also thinks the role would be a challenge for him, and would remind people of his versatility as an actor. At the moment people are concentrating on his personal life, and his marriage to Katie - but he wants to remind them that he can act too."

So far Cruise's representatives have refused to confirm or deny that he has been approached for the role, saying: "A lot of people consider Tom for a lot of roles."

Aviator actor Leonardo DiCaprio has also been linked to the project as he frequently visits Hefner's Playboy mansion in Los Angeles and knows the icon personally.

X-Men 3 director Brett Ratner has reportedly signed up to work on the film.