Crystal to Biel: Rethink "Playmates"

Crystal Hefner publicly urged Jessica Biel to reconsider playing a fictionalized version of Hugh Hefner's wife in Searchlight's "Playmates." She posted her plea on Instagram on October 8, 2026.

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The Public DM

Hefner first privately messaged Biel, then posted the message on her own Instagram grid, tagging the actress. The plea went public after Biel's casting was announced.

Photo: NY Post

What She Wrote

Hefner said she experienced sexual, emotional, financial and physical abuse in her marriage, and cited other women's allegations of rape, coercion, drugging and exploitation.

Photo: CBS News

She asked everyone involved in the film to listen to the women who lived the Playboy years before Hollywood turns that era back into nostalgia.

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"Listen to the Women Who Lived It"

The Marriage

Crystal married Hugh Hefner on New Year's Eve 2012 — she was 26, he was 86. They remained married until his death in 2017.

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Biel's Role

Variety reported on October 6, 2026 that Biel joined the cast of "Playmates" as a fictional "wife" figure. The real Hefner was married three times.

Photo: Getty Images via TheWrap

Pullman as Hef

Bill Pullman is cast as Hugh Hefner, the Playboy founder who died in 2017 at age 91.

Photo: TMDB

Depp's Role

Lily-Rose Depp plays a woman hoping to become Playmate of the Month in the Searchlight film.

Photo: EFE via TN

The Director's Angle

"Playmates" is written and directed by Lorraine Nicholson, who says the story is inspired by her own experiences around the Playboy Mansion.

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Inside the Story

The film follows a 13-year-old girl, played by Indiana Elle, who befriends Depp's aspiring model as they chase what they want most.

Photo: CanalNet

The Girlfriends Era

The casting revisits an era Hefner now publicly condemns — years after her 2024 memoir "Only Say Good Things" detailed her time in the Playboy world.

Photo: AFI event (via Group B article images)

No Response Yet

As of October 10, 2026, neither Biel, Searchlight, nor the filmmakers have publicly responded or announced any script changes.

Photo: Fashion Trust event (via Group B article images)

Get the Full Story

Read the full report on Crystal Hefner's message to Jessica Biel and what it means for the "Playmates" movie.

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