When a celebrity dies, a possible biopic gets on the table. Zac Efron heard about Matthew Perry wanting the High School Musical star to play him in a biopic. It turns out the Baywatch actor is open to it, even though there is nothing official that this movie about the Friends star is not official. The two worked together in the 2009 movie 17 Again.
Zac Efron Would Be ‘Honored’ To Play Matthew Perry in a Biopic
It was reported by Entertainment Weekly that it was a wish from the old co-star, who died last month. On the red carpet for his new movie, The Iron Claw, Zac Efron talked to People magazine about the prospect of doing the biopic on his 17 Again co-star. For him, he was “honored” after hearing that the Friends star thought of him before he died.
Looking back at his deceased co-star, the former Disney star looks back at 17 Again and what that meant to him. He called the actor his “mentor” as he “learned so much” when they worked together on the 2009 comedy.
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.
Zac Efron to People magazine
In the EW report about the biopic that would have Zac Efron as a young Matthew Perry, some details were revealed. The High School Musical star would be the past self of the actor. The Friends star was ready to ask the question to get the ball rolling before he died on October 28.
In 17 Again, Matthew Perry turned into his 17 self, who was played by Zac Efron. The film also starred Leslie Mann (Knocked Up) and Thomas Lennon (Reno 911!). The film grossed $136 million off a $40 million budget.
