Zac Efronis remembering his late17 AgaincostarMatthew Perry.
While walking the red carpet for the world premiere of his new filmThe Iron Clawin Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday evening, the actor, 36, tells PEOPLE exclusively that he would be open to playing Perry — whodiedlast month at age 54 — in a future biopic, after Perry previously expressed he would want Efron for the role.
“I’m honored to hear he was thinking of me to play him,” Efron says. “We’ll see. I’d be honored to do it.”
“He was a mentor to me, and we made a really cool film together,” he says. “I looked up to him, I learned comedic timing from that guy. I mean, when we were filming17 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.”
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Zac Efron, Matthew Perry in ‘17 Again’.Offspring Entertainment/Kobal/Shutterstock
Offspring Entertainment/Kobal/Shutterstock
In 17 Again,Efron played a younger version of Perry’s Mike O’Donnell. The film centers on 37-year-old Mike, who has regrets about how his life turned out, until he gets the chance for a do-over when he falls into a time vortex and becomes a teenager again.
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty; John Lamparski/Getty
The cast of17 Againalso includedLeslie Mann,Michelle Trachtenberg, Jim Gaffigan and Thomas Lennon.
“Matty had huge feelings and was not afraid to make you a part of those feelings. A comedy sword-swallower using real swords. The swords hurt,” wrote Lennon, 53, later adding, “Matty was always trying to get better. Matty was ready to talk. Matty didn’t want to be alone. Matty wanted to make you laugh even if swallowing the swords hurt.”
Michelle Trachtenberg, Zac Efron, Leslie Mann and Matthew Perry at the “17 Again” premiere on April 14, 2009.Lester Cohen/WireImage
Lester Cohen/WireImage
Best known for playing Chandler Bing on 10 seasons of the sitcomFriends, Perry was also known for movies like2000’sThe Whole Nine Yards,1997’sFools Rush Inand 1999’sThree to Tango.
Matthew Perry.Frazer Harrison/Getty
Frazer Harrison/Getty
Efron stars inThe Iron ClawalongsideJeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson and Stanley Simons as the real-life sibling prowrestlers that made up the Von Erich family.
On Wednesday night’s red carpet, Efron also chats with PEOPLE about his outlook on fame, a subject featured in the A24 film.
“I think times are changing,” Efron admits. “One thing I will say is everyone’s got a phone nowadays, so that’s an interesting part of being famous. And I think that’s what this movie’s about. The way that it was for [my character] Kevin [Von Erich], his family, it speaks to a lot of the downside, or maybe the pitfalls, of fame.”
“You have to be a warrior to get through this s—, man,” he continues. “And that’s what this story is about. I respect the heck out of guys that fall down and are able to pick themselves back up and persevere.”
TheHigh School Musicalalum adds, “I think everyone can relate to it on one level or another.”
The Iron Clawis in theaters on Dec. 22.
source: people.com
