Tom Cruise is being lined up to portray Playboy founder Hugh Hefner in a biopic, according to reports. The eccentric Scientologist has become the favorite to take on the role of the eighty-one year old Playboy founder in an upcoming movie about his life.

“Tom knows of Hugh’s colourful past and thinks he would be the perfect person to bring it to the big screen,” says a mole.

“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.”

Reps for Tom have refused to confirm the report: “A lot of people consider Tom for a lot of roles.”