Will Philip Seymour Hoffman Play Mario Batali in a Movie Adaptation of Heat?

Big apron to fill.

Chefs seem to be all over our television and movie screens these days. The next toque portrayal may be Mario Batali in a movie version of the Bill Buford memoir Heat. And who might play the Great Orange One? Eater speculated that Capote's Philip Seymour Hoffman could do a decent job of it -- he has the right stature and the hair color, after all. (Although both would likely have to be amplified for the role.) Buford himself couldn't agree more. He tells Grub Street:

"I have long thought that there is no actor alive who could play Mario. Actually, Mario has said the same. He's more Hollywood than Hollywood. He is bigger, more flamboyant, more theatrical, more outright fun than anyone else out there, EXCEPT Philip Seymour Hoffman. He's the only guy."

Hear that Hoffman? There may be many a lamb tongue and beef-cheek raviolo in your future.

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