A public plea regarding the upcoming Searchlight Pictures film, Playmates, has surfaced. Kimberly Conrad was married to the Playboy founder from 1989 until their divorce was finalized in 2010, while allegations were recently made by his widow, Crystal Harris.
Crystal Harris’s Plea to Jessica Biel
The conflict began on October 8, when Crystal Harris issued a public plea to Jessica Biel, urging the actress to “reconsider” her role in the production. Harris, who was married to Hefner from 2012 until his death in 2017, has reported that she experienced sexual, emotional, financial, and physical abuse during her time with the publisher. In her message to Biel, Harris expressed concern that the film might gloss over the darker realities she claims to have faced at the Playboy Mansion.
Bill Pullman has been cast to portray Hugh Hefner in Playmates. While the film is set within the world of the famous estate, production details indicate that Biel’s character in the film is a fictional wife and is not explicitly based on either Conrad or Harris.
Director Lorraine Nicholson’s Perspective
The film is being written and directed by Lorraine Nicholson, daughter of actor Jack Nicholson. Nicholson, who grew up spending significant time at the Playboy Mansion, is drawing on her personal childhood experiences for the script. She has previously described her perspective of the Mansion as one of “paradoxical innocence,” a viewpoint that contrasts with the systemic abuse Harris has alleged occurred behind the scenes.
While Harris has shared her allegations of a toxic environment, the production appears to be moving forward with its dramatized exploration of the Mansion’s culture through Nicholson’s lens. As of October 14, 2026, Biel has not publicly responded to Harris’s request to reconsider her role in the film.
