In the new trailer for Netflix The One About Matthew Perry, the late Friends star reflects on his TV success and the toll it took. In a voiceover early in the clip, Perry says, “I said God, you can do anything you want to me just please make me famous.” When fame arrived, Perry reflected, “God did not forget the other part.”
The three-episode series, described by Netflix as “an intimate documentary series exploring the life and legacy of Matthew Perry,” premieres globally on the streamer October 27. Check out the trailer above.
Directed by Mary Robertson, the docuseries features interviews with Perry’s family and friends, including sister Mia Perry Bowick, close friends David Pressman and Roger Castillo, former NBC President Warren Littlefield and others who knew or worked with the late Friends star.
The two-minute trailer chronicles Perry’s experience with fame and the realization that it was not actually everything he wanted. Using testimonies from his sister Mia Perry Bowick, several other close friends and unreleased photos and videos from the Perry family’s private archive, the three-part series explores his career as a beloved actor and comedian while also revealing details about his long-term struggle with drug use and his attempts to get sober (he spent more than $7 million in those efforts, the doc says).
The release of the film comes on the third anniversary of Perry’s death.
In a statement accompanying the Netflix premiere date announcement, Perry’s sister said, “It’s taken time for me to feel ready to share these memories and what it was like to love Matthew through all the complexity of his life—to see him as a whole person, not just as Chandler, and not just as someone who struggled with addiction. As his sister, he shaped who I am today, the person I strive to be, and the work to which I’ve devoted my life.
“Matthew had a beautiful heart,” she continues, “and a generous spirit, and even in his darkest moments, he could still make you laugh and feel loved. I hope this series gives everyone who loved him, whether personally or from afar, a deeper appreciation for who he truly was, and the legacy he leaves behind.”
“Matthew Perry was one of the comedic geniuses of our time,” said director Robertson. “Through his many films, TV and stage performances, and his unforgettable portrayal of Chandler Bing, he made millions of us laugh, connect, and feel a little less alone. He also gave us so much more by bravely speaking about addiction. Yet the public only knew part of his story. That’s why we set out to make this film: to let the people who knew and loved Matthew reveal the person behind the public figure.”
Netflix’s The One About Matthew Perry is executive produced by Mary Robertson, Lisa Kalikow, Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman; co-executive produced by Lora Moftah; and produced by Jessica Call. Maxine Productions, a part of Sony Pictures Television, is the production company.
Check out the trailer above.
