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It would appear that much of the world had forgotten about Robert Downey Jr., would it not? At least, they must have forgotten about him in order to justify the uproar of “Welcome Back” sentiments that were made following his “return to form” in this summer’s first blockbuster Iron Man. As if fans and Hollywood journos alike had missed films such as Good Night, and Good Luck, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, A Scanner Darkly, Zodiac and Charlie Bartlett, all great Downey performances — all released from 2005 to 2008. In fact, while the pundits of Tinseltown would lead you to believe that Iron Man is Downey’s big resurgence, it is merely just another mark along the way, another checkpoint in an ascension back to the prominence he knew back in ’92 with Chaplin that has been taking place for years.

Overall, despite his off-camera problems in the mid-1990s, Robert Downey Jr. has always been a truly great American actor. So why shouldn’t he move on to playing an American icon, maybe Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, perhaps?

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that Hef himself has signed off on Downey to play the role in the upcoming biopic Playboy, which follows the early years of Playboy Magazine. Downey’s reps are saying that while he is interested in playing Hefner (and who wouldn’t be, right?), he is unlikely to commit to the project until a script is done and a director is named.

Hollywood whipping-post Brett Ratner (Rush Hour) was originally attached to direct last year, but has since moved on to other things. Uber-producer Brian Grazer however, is still attached to the project.

So while nothing is definite as of yet, it appears that Downey, now an extremely hot commodity in Hollywood, is very much in the running to bring Playboy’s wild origins to life on the big screen. Personally, I think he could pull it off quite well — but that goes without saying. After following his career for years now, I can’t say that there is a role that Downey can’t play.

Speaking of such roles, Downey can be seen next in Ben Stiller’s Tropic Thunder, where he will play an egomaniacal actor who dies his skin black to play an African American character.

Sound Off: What do you think of Robert Downey Jr. as Hugh Hefner?