• Matthew Perry said Zac Efron declined an offer to play a younger version of him again.
• The two stars previously worked together on “17 Again.”
• Perry is working on a new film that he wants to direct.

Matthew Perry has been in the public spotlight a lot recently as a number of enlightening extracts from his memoir reveal an insight into the “Friends” star’s life over the past few decades. 

Some of the most surprising moments in the book see Perry explain his battles with addiction over the years. When promoting the book, he even recalled a moment when he was immediately taken back to a treatment center after filming the “Friends” episode where Chandler and Monica get married.

But the actor recently discussed the upcoming projects he has in the pipeline when speaking to Jessica Shaw on SiriusXM.

Perry explained that he’s written a new film that he originally intended to star in as the lead, but he realized he needed a much younger actor to play the main role, and he’d have a smaller part.

He said: “I finished a screenplay that we’re out with to some people. I want to direct that. 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.”

When asked about who would be his ideal pick, Perry said: “Well, it was Zac Efron. But he said no. So we’ve got to find somebody who says yes. And that’ll be a whole new experience for me, directing a movie, which I think I’ll be good at. I hope I’ll be good at.”

 

The actor didn’t say why Efron declined the offer, but he’s been in high demand from studios ever since his “High School Musical” days, and he’ll next be seen in A24’s “The Iron Claw” playing wrestler Kevin Von Erich.

Audiences will remember that Efron played the younger version of Perry in 2009’s “17 Again,” which sees Mike O’Donnell (Matthew Perry) revert back to his 17-year-old self (Zac Efron), after a bizarre conversation about his regrets in life. So it’s natural that Perry instantly thought of Efron again for what could be a spiritual sequel to “17 Again.”

Perry did tease a few details about the project, confirming that it’s a romantic comedy, and that “Parks and Recreation” and “Ingrid Goes West” star Aubrey Plaza was nearly on board as the love interest.

But when it comes to the actor’s real love life, Perry recently told SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen that he’s “done” using dating apps after calling off his engagement with fiancée, Molly Hurwitz.