Matthew Perry Wanted Zac Efron To Play Him In His Biopic After Sharing Roles In ’17 Again’

The late Matthew Perry had expressed a desire for Zac Efron to portray him in a biopic about his life, according to entertainment reporter Athenna Crosby.

Perry and Efron had previously shared roles in the 2009 film “17 Again,” where Efron played both a younger version of Perry and the older version stuck in a younger body.

Crosby shared that Perry had dined with her just one day before his death and discussed his aspiration for a biopic. Perry reportedly praised Efron’s portrayal and felt he did an excellent job.

The actor passed away on October 29, and details surrounding his death indicated no signs of foul play or drug involvement. Perry’s family released a statement expressing gratitude for the outpouring of love and acknowledging Matthew’s contributions as an actor and friend.

Zac Efron Says He Would ‘Be Honored’ to Play 17 Again Costar Matthew Perry in a Biopic (Exclusive)

“I looked up to him,” the actor tells PEOPLE exclusively of Perry, who died last month at age 54

Zac Efron is remembering his late 17 Again costar Matthew Perry.

While walking the red carpet for the world premiere of his new film The Iron Claw in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday evening, the actor, 36, tells PEOPLE exclusively that he would be open to playing Perry — who died last 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.”

Noting that he is “devastated” by Perry’s loss, Efron also recounts fond memories he has of filming the 2009 comedy 17 Again alongside the Friends star.

“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 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.”

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Zac Efron, Matthew Perry in ’17 Again’.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.

Entertainment reporter Athenna Crosby, who was photographed dining with Perry at the Hotel Bel-Air one day before his death, previously told PEOPLE that the star “wanted to make a movie about his life and have a biopic made” — and that he “wanted Zac Efron, who’s played him already, to play him again because he said he did such a good job.”

MATT WINKELMEYER/GETTY; JOHN LAMPARSKI/GETTY

The cast of 17 Again also included Leslie Mann, Michelle Trachtenberg, Jim Gaffigan and Thomas Lennon.

Lennon, who also worked with Perry on The Odd Couple television series that began in 2015, wrote a tribute to Perry published by Variety.

“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.”