Matthew Perry’s would-be biopic isn’t the only time he courted Zac Efron. In a 2022 interview on SiriusXM’s “Pop Culture Spotlight With Jessica Shaw,” Perry revealed that he had completed a romantic comedy screenplay. “I want to direct that,” Perry said, adding, “I have a small part in it. I wrote it for myself and then realized, I’m twenty years too old to play this. So we’re trying to cast the leads now.”
Perry had hoped that Efron would take the lead role, but he said no. Additionally, he came close to casting Aubrey Plaza. “Aubrey Plaza almost did it, and that would have been perfect,” Perry continued. “She came very close and it would have been perfect.”
It is unclear if Perry’s rom-com will ever come to fruition with a new director at the helm. Sadly, Perry had expressed his excitement at the possibility of directing his first feature film. “That’ll be a whole new experience for me, directing a movie,” Perry said in the same interview. “I think I’ll be good at [it]. I hope I’ll be good at [it].”
Meanwhile, fans can only speculate as to whether Efron would or will play Perry in a biopic. In addition to their “17 Again” connection, Efron has been similarly vocal about his sobriety. “It’s a never-ending struggle,” the actor, who sought treatment in rehab in 2013, told The Hollywood Reporter. “I was drinking a lot, way too much.” Should the biopic ever come to pass, it’s entirely possible that the subject matter will speak to Efron.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
