Zac Efron Weighs in on Possibility of Playing Matthew Perry in Biopic
Zac Efron; Matthew Perry
Zac Efron would be happy to respect the wishes of his late co-star, Matthew Perry.
Prior to his death, the beloved Friends actor previously said he would want Efron to play him in a movie about his life, especially considering he already played the younger version of him in the film 17 Again.
Just weeks after Perry's tragic death at the age of 54 on Oct. 28, Efron, 36, weighed in on the possibility of portraying Perry in a future biopic while attending the movie premiere for his new film, The Iron Claw.
"I'm honored to hear he was thinking of me to play him," Efron told PEOPLE while walking the red carpet in Dallas, Texas on Wednesday, Nov. 8. "We'll see. I'd be honored to do it."
View the original article to see embedded media.
While addressing Perry's sudden passing during Wednesday night's movie premiere, Efron went on to say that he is "devastated" by the loss such a talented actor.
"He was a mentor to me, and we made a really cool film together," Efron stated. "I looked up to him."
Efron starred as the younger version of Perry's 37-year-old character Mike O'Donnell in the 2009 comedy film, when he suddenly gets a second chance at his life when he turns back into a teenager. Other stars from the hit movie included Leslie Mann, Michelle Trachtenberg, Jim Gaffigan and Thomas Lennon.
"I learned comedic timing from that guy," Efron added of Perry. "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."
After Perry's passing, entertainment reporter Athenna Crosby—who was photographed with the actor just one day before he died—revealed that Perry was hoping to make a movie about his life.
"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]," Crosby told Entertainment Tonight, while sharing that Perry even had plans to "ask him soon to do that."
Next: The Loved One Who Handled Matthew Perry's Death Details Confirmed
