Netflix has just dropped the first trailer and a wealth of new details for its upcoming intimate documentary series, The One About Matthew Perry. Arriving globally on Netflix on October 27, 2026—just one day before the three-year anniversary of his death—the three-part documentary event promises to be the definitive look at the man behind the iconic character of Chandler Bing.
Announced at the top of the month and produced by Maxine Productions (a part of Sony Pictures Television), the series will span three 50-minute episodes. If you’re wondering about the pedigree behind the camera, you’ll be glad to know it is being directed and executive produced by Emmy Award-winner Mary Robertson. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because she is the powerhouse documentary filmmaker behind recent massive cultural touchstones like Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV and Framing Britney Spears.
Here’s the official logline provided by Netflix:
Told through intimate testimonies from close family and friends, this documentary event reveals the real Matthew Perry—generous, funny, vulnerable, larger than life—and the battles he fought to become the man behind the icon. A raw record of a life lived in full, and the honesty that became his greatest legacy.
Perhaps the trailer’s most haunting moment features an old clip of Perry recalling a prayer he made before his big break: “I said God, you can do anything you want to me, just please make me famous.” The trailer takes us through his skyrocketing fame, the realization that fame wouldn’t fix his internal struggles, and ultimately, the profound impact he had on the people he helped save in recovery.
Divided into title cards reading “The One About Love,” “The One About Laughter,” and “The One About a Friend,” the trailer hopefully teases a well-crafted tribute to the late actor.
Netflix’s newly released press notes confirm that the series will draw on a treasure trove of first-time, in-depth interviews and private archives. The documentary isn’t shying away from the dualities of Perry’s life; it aims to sit unflinchingly with both his comedic genius and the heavy toll of his addiction.
For the very first time on camera, Matthew’s younger sister, Mia Perry Bowick—who became a licensed psychotherapist partly to understand his addiction—will speak publicly about their family and his life, alongside his lifelong best friends of over 40 years, David Pressman and Roger Castillo. Fans can also expect firsthand accounts of Matthew’s fateful audition for Friends and the creation of Chandler Bing, featuring insights from former NBC President Warren Littlefield and season 1 writer Jeff Strauss. The series will explore his broader film and TV career with stories from Boys Will Be Boys, Fools Rush In, and The Whole Nine Yards, while heavily focusing on his road to recovery, detailing his journey with addiction and his relentless advocacy work. Bringing the story up to the present, the documentary will even feature an interview with E. Martin Estrada, the former U.S. Attorney who led the prosecution in the criminal case connected to Perry’s passing, alongside other notable participants like actor Kevin Pollak and director Jonathan Lynn.
Full List of Guest Interviews in The One About Matthew Perry
To paint a complete picture of his life, the documentary features a wide array of Matthew’s family, lifelong friends, creative collaborators, and recovery advocates. Here is the full list of participants appearing in the series:
- Mia Perry Bowick: Matthew’s younger sister. She grew up with him in Los Angeles and eventually became a licensed psychotherapist, a career path inspired partly by her desire to understand his addiction. This marks her first time speaking about Matthew on camera.
- Roger Castillo: Matthew’s best friend for over 40 years. They met in LA at age 17, and Roger even drove him to his life-changing Friends audition. This is his first time speaking about Matthew on camera.
- David Pressman: An actor and another of Matthew’s best friends of 40+ years. They were part of a close-knit circle of aspiring actors who used to frequent LA’s Formosa Cafe. This is also his first time speaking about Matthew on camera.
- Warren Littlefield: Former President of NBC Entertainment (1990–1998) who famously greenlit the pilot that would become Friends, launching Perry into global superstardom.
- Marjorie Harris Newman: A friend who met Matthew in the late 1980s when they were both young, aspiring actors navigating the Los Angeles scene.
- Billy Gallo: Matthew’s co-star from the 1987 Fox sitcom Boys Will Be Boys, which was one of Perry’s earliest television roles.
- Jeff Strauss: A writer and producer on the first season of Friends who helped shape and define the character of Chandler Bing.
- Mary McNamara: Culture columnist for the Los Angeles Times, who has covered Friends since its 1994 premiere and followed Perry’s career ever since.
- Kevin Pollak: A longtime friend and frequent co-star, having appeared alongside Perry in The Whole Nine Yards, The Whole Ten Yards, and Numb.
- Doug Draizin: Producer of the 1997 rom-com Fools Rush In, which was one of Matthew’s first major film roles and was based loosely on Draizin’s own life.
- René Ashton: An actress who was Matthew’s friend and girlfriend in the late ’90s during the filming of The Whole Nine Yards.
- Jonathan Lynn: The acclaimed director (Clue, My Cousin Vinny) who directed Perry alongside Bruce Willis in The Whole Nine Yards.
- Tim Harrington: A fellow traveler in recovery who met Matthew at a meeting in 2001. The two became roommates, and Harrington credits Perry with saving his life.
- Nate Torrence: Comedic actor and co-star who worked with Perry on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and Mr. Sunshine (the latter of which Matthew specifically wrote for him).
- West Huddleston: A friend and fellow advocate. As the CEO of All Rise, he worked closely with Matthew on national drug court advocacy campaigns.
- Evelyn: A friend who met Matthew in rehab in 2017, where the two bonded over their shared love of art and music.
- Rome: An actress and Matthew’s on-and-off girlfriend/friend from 2011 onward, who reconnected with him later in his life.
- E. Martin Estrada: The former U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California who led the prosecution in the criminal case connected to Matthew’s passing.
Netflix’s release today also came with a touching note from Perry’s sister, Mia Perry Bowick:
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… Matthew had a beautiful heart 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.
Director Mary Robertson echoed this sentiment, stating, “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.”
Will you be checking out The One About Matthew Perry when it hits Netflix on October 27th? Let us know in the comments below, and keep an eye on What’s on Netflix for more coverage, as we’ll have a full review and a breakdown of all the biggest revelations upon release.
