Matthew Perry really wanted this former co-star to play him in a movie, and someone should make it happen

Matthew Perry’s passing was an absolute shock to the world, as his loved ones and his fans across the globe continue to mourn his loss. The talented actor, best known for playing Chandler Bing in all 10 seasons of Friends, was found unresponsive at his Los Angeles home before being pronounced dead on Saturday, Oct. 28. Perry was 54.

The late actor’s legacy lives on through his TV and movie roles, along with his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, in which he used his trademark sarcastic humor to reflect back at the highs and lows of his life. Perry opened up on his addiction struggles, dealing with fame, and his experience working on the set of Friends. Fans found the book to be incredibly inspiring, and it’s not a surprise to see it back at the top of the Amazon Charts after his death.

Matthew Perry wanted Zac Efron to play him in a movie

Now that Perry is no longer with us, there have been talks from fans and publications about what a potential movie about his life could look like. In a new interview with Entertainment Tonight, Perry’s friend Athenna Crosby says the actor wanted to make a biopic about himself, and he knew what actor he wanted to play him:

"“He said that he wanted to make a movie about his life. And he had worked with Zac Efron in the past on a movie, and he said that he wanted Zac Efron to play him as a younger version [of himself] and that he was gonna ask him soon to do that. He was just looking forward to sharing more about his story and his recovery from addiction, and really championing that cause to help more people, so he was so optimistic and happy about everything that he wanted to do.”"

Perry worked with Zac Efron in the 2009 comedy 17 Again directed by Burr Steers, in which Perry’s character Mike becomes his teenage self again, with that version being portrayed by Efron.

This is hardly the first time we heard about Perry wanting Efron to play him in a movie. As we previously reported, the actor himself shared this desire while promoting his memoir last November when asked about the possibility of the book being adapted.

Perry’s memoir will likely be adapted into a movie at some point

Given how popular Perry was, it seems like an adaption of his memoir is inevitable. He had such an important story to tell, and it’s obvious he was interested in making a movie about his life when he was alive. Handled with care, a film about him could be fantastic. And casting Efron in the starring role would be an awesome option. Considering Perry hand-picked the actor, plus the fact that they already knew each other from working on 17 Again together, it would seem like an appropriate casting.

Not to mention, Efron is a great actor. Though he started his career as a teen heartthrob in the High School Musical movies, Efron has proven his versatility in the years since, appearing in both comedies and dramas. He gave a strong performance playing Ted Bundy in the 2019 movie Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, and I’m very excited to see him star in the upcoming film The Iron Claw, in which Efron plays pro wrestler Kevin Von Erich.

Perry’s death was no doubt unexpected, so if an adaptation of his memoir is developed, we don’t expect it to be anytime soon. Let’s just cross our fingers that if and when it happens, it’s handled delicately and respectfully.