Crystal Hefner, widow of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, publicly appealed to actress Jessica Biel to reconsider her involvement in an upcoming film project. Hefner shared a screenshot of a direct message she sent to Biel on Instagram, asking her to step back from the coming-of-age story inspired by Hugh Hefner's life and legacy.
Crystal Hefner was married to Hugh Hefner from 2012 until his death in 2017 at age 91. The film project, titled "Playmates," appears to draw from Hefner's biography and the world surrounding Playboy magazine. Hefner's widow voiced her disapproval of the adaptation nearly a decade after the founder's passing.
The nature of Crystal Hefner's specific objections to the project, as stated in her message to Biel, remains unclear from available information. Her public appeal represents a significant intervention in the development of the film by someone with direct ties to the subject matter and Hefner's estate.
Jessica Biel's role in the project and the project's development status were not detailed in the available reporting. The film represents one of multiple projects exploring Hefner's life and the culture surrounding Playboy magazine in recent years.