Netflix will release a Matthew Perry docuseries chronicling the late “Friends” actor’s life and legacy in October, the streamer announced on Tuesday.
Titled “The One About Matthew Perry,” the three-part docuseries is the “first in-depth, definitive documentary” since his death in 2023. The series is directed by Emmy Award winner Mary Robertson (“Quiet on Set,” “The Fall of Diddy”) and produced by Maxine Productions, a part of Sony Pictures Television.
“The One About Matthew Perry” will include testimonies from his sister Mia Perry Bowick and lifelong best friends. The streamer did not reveal if any of the “Friends” cast would make an appearance in the show.
“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,” Bowick said. “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 and a generous spirit, and even in his darkest moments, he could still make you laugh and feel loved,” she added. “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.”
The docuseries will premiere on Netflix later this fall on Oct. 27.
The three-part series will trace his journey as a rising comedic star to his “Friends” tenure and beyond. Various testimonies from his close family and friends will detail who Perry was off-screen and the battles he fought in private.
“Matthew Perry was one of the comedic geniuses of our time,” director Robertson said. “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 series: to let the people who knew and loved Matthew reveal the person behind the public figure,” she added.
Perry was found unresponsive in his jacuzzi in his home in 2023. He was pronounced dead later that afternoon due to a ketamine overdose.
Five people were charged for their involvement in the case. Dr. Salvador Plasencia was the first defendant in the case to be sentenced and received a sentence of 30 months’ imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release. Jasveen Sangha, also known as The Ketamine Queen, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for providing Perry the drugs that led to his death.
“The One About Matthew Perry” will be executive produced by Robertson, Lisa Kalikow, Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman with Lora Moftah as a co-executive producer. Jessica Call will also produce.
