Matthew Perry wanted Zac Efron to play him in a biopic about his life.
Last year, the Friends icon revealed he offered the High School Musical star the role after playing a younger version of Matthew’s character in the 2009 film 17 Again.
However, when Matthew approached him to take on the role of a twenty-year-younger version of himself in the novel he had written, Zac turned down the opportunity.
Asked on SiriusXM who his “younger dream version” of himself was, Matthew confirmed, “Well, it was Zac Efron. But he said no. So we have to find someone who says yes.’
Last week, Athenna Crosby, a friend of Matthew Perry, echoed People that the late actor: “wanted Zac Efron, who already played him, to play him again because he said he did such a good job.”
Not really! Matthew Perry wanted Zac Efron to play him in a biopic about his life, but he turned down the opportunity
Oh! Last year Matthew revealed he had offered Zac the role after playing a younger version of Matthew’s character in the 2009 film 17 Again (pictured)
Mini me: When asked who his “younger dream version” of himself was, Matthew confirmed, “Well, it was Zac Efron. But he said no. So we have to find someone who says yes’ (pictured in 2009)
In 17 Again, Matthew played Mike, a middle-aged husband and father longing for his high school glory days.
A strange encounter with a time vortex sends Mike back in time twenty years to become his teenage self (played by Zac Efron) – with the ability to make different choices.
For the female lead in Matthew’s biopic, the Friends actor revealed to SiriusXM that The White Lotus actress Aubrey Plaza “almost did it.”
He added, “And that would have been perfect because I think she’s amazing. There are dramatic things in here too. She came really close, and it would have been perfect.”
The resurfaced news comes a week after Friends star Matthew died aged 54 after accidentally drowning in his jacuzzi at home.
The actor, who rose to fame as the sarcastic Chandler Bing in the groundbreaking ’90s sitcom, was found dead at his Los Angeles home on Saturday, October 28, after emergency services were called around 4pm local time.
He had reportedly played a game of Pickleball – a sport similar to tennis but played on a smaller court – earlier in the day before sending his assistant out on an errand. When they returned, Matthew was found unconscious in his hot tub.
Friends, which followed the lives of six friends in their twenties living in New York, was a huge success around the world when it aired between 1994 and 2004, and reruns are still hugely popular years later.
Praise: Last week, a friend of Matthew’s echoed that he: ‘wanted Zac Efron, who has already played him, to play him again because he said he did so well’ (Image: Zac in 17 Again)
Matthew won a worldwide fan base for his role as Chandler, which earned him an Emmy nomination in 2002, but behind the glitz and glamor he secretly battled substance abuse for decades.
Common narcotics were not found in Matthew’s system during initial testing, according to a TMZ report. But more in-depth testing is underway and should reveal whether the beloved actor had prescription drugs in his system.
When investigators went to his home, they found no illegal drugs, but did find prescription medications that were properly labeled and kept in storage bottles.
Matthew’s cause of death remains unconfirmed, but initial toxicology reports indicated there was no meth or fentanyl in his system when he drowned.
On Monday, Jennifer Aniston and the rest of the cast – Courtney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow – released a statement describing their shock and sadness.
“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just castmates. We are a family,” the cast said in a joint statement on Monday.
“There is so much to say, but now we are going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss. We will say more over time, as soon as we are able to do so.
“For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends and everyone who loved him around the world.”