Matthew Perry had previously expressed that he would want Zac Efron to play him in a movie
Reflecting on his 17 Again co-star Matthew Perry’s recent passing, actor Zac Efron shared his sentiments while walking the red carpet for the world premiere of his new film, The Iron Claw, in Dallas, Texas. Efron expressed his openness to portraying Perry in a potential biopic, acknowledging Perry’s previous desire for him to take on the role.
I’m honoured to hear he was thinking of me to play him,” Efron told in an interview, revealing he is “devastated” by Perry’s tragic death. Recalling their time working together, Efron shared, “He was a mentor to me, and we made a really cool film together. I looked up to him, I learned comedic timing from that guy. I mean, when we were filming 17 Again, it was so surreal for me to look across and have him be there because I’ve learned so much from him, from his whole life.”
Matthew Perry had expressed his desire to create a movie about his life, with plans for Zac Efron to portray a younger version of him. A friend of Perry, Athenna Crosby, shared his aspirations, saying, “He said that he wanted to make a movie about his life. He had worked with Zac Efron in the past on a movie. He said that he wanted Zac Efron to play him as a younger version and that he was gonna ask him soon to do that.” She added that Perry was optimistic and eager to share more about his recovery from addiction.
Perry passed away on October 28 by apparent drowning. His Friends co-stars and family members attended a gathering at Forest Lawn Church of the Hills in Los Angeles, presumably for his funeral service. Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc were among those present, dressed in black to pay their respects.