JOHNNY DEPP - DEPP SET FOR HEFNER ROLE?

JOHNNY DEPP is leading the race to portray PLAYBOY boss HUGH HEFNER in a new biopic about the magazine publisher's extraordinary life.

Top producer BRIAN GRAZER is working on a script for the project at Universal and Hefner likes his choice for a lead.

He says, "We've got a first draft of the screenplay, they've talked about JOHNNY DEPP as a possibility.

"The first order of business is to finish the script and get a good director on board. I like Johnny Depp."

Hefner admits he's sorry the film wasn't made 20 or 30 years ago because he'd have loved JAMES STEWART of HENRY FONDA to portray him.