A Friend of Matthew Perry Revealed the Actor He’d Like to Play Him in a Biopic & We Couldn’t Have Cast It Any Better Ourselves

Following Matthew Perry‘s sudden passing on Oct. 28, many of the actor’s ongoing goals and ambitions have come to light. In a new interview with a friend of Perry’s, journalist Athenna Crosby, she revealed some of Perry’s upcoming projects, including a biopic about his life.

“He said that he wanted to make a movie about his life,” Crosby told Entertainment Tonight. Although she didn’t have any details as to how far along the process was, she did reveal the familiar face Perry was adamant in casting. “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,” she revealed.

As any fan of Perry could tell you, Perry and Efron co-starred in the 2009 movie 17 Again together. In the movie, Efron played a 17-year-old version of Perry’s character as he accidentally jumped back in time. If you ask us, choosing Efron for the part would be perfect casting!

“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,” Crosby said of his biopic hopes. “He was so optimistic and happy about everything that he wanted to do.” It’s a shame he’ll never see that pan out as he’d hoped.

Prior to the biopic reports, Perry opened up to SiriusXM last year about casting Efron in another role, but this time it was a romantic comedy he had written. “I finished a screenplay that we’re out with to some people. I want to direct that,” he revealed. “I have a small part in it. I wrote it for myself and then realized I’m 20 years too old to play this. So we’re trying to cast the leads now.”

As for the main lead, Perry had his eyes of the High School Musical alum. “Well it was Zac Efron, he said no, so we’ve got to find someone who says yes,” he added.

The movie, for Perry, would have been his first time in the director’s seat. “That’ll be a whole new experience for me directing a movie,” he said. “Which I think I’ll be good at, I hope I’ll be good at.”

Although Perry’s connection with Efron is heartwarming to any 17 Again fan, we’re saddened to hear about so many projects Perry was excited to work on before his passing. May his work continue to live on.

Before you go, click here to see all the celebrities we’ve lost this year.