Matthew Perry Envisioned Starring in Autobiographical Superhero Project — and Enlisted Adam McKay's Help

The 'Don't Look Up' director said he pitched Matthew Perry a counter idea, which he promptly rejected

Before Matthew Perry's unexpected death at 54, the actor had a surprising idea for a potential comeback project and had even pitched the concept to director Adam McKay.

During their time working together on Netflix's 2020 film Don't Look Up, the late Friends star — who had a small role in the movie that was eventually pulled — approached McKay, 55, about an autobiographical superhero project about his life called Mattman.

"It's about this guy," McKay explained to The Hollywood Reporter. "You'd recognize him. His name is Matt and he's very famous and about 50 years old. His life is a little bit of a mess. He's lost. Out of the blue a distant relative dies and leaves him $2 billion — and he uses [it] to become a superhero."

Related: Remembering Matthew Perry's Life and Career in Photos

McKay was fascinated because he provided a glimpse into the inner workings of Perry's mind. "Any movie idea is kind of like someone telling you their dream," he shared. "And there’s kind of obviously a meaning behind it. And when I heard that idea, I was like, 'Oh, that's interesting that that's the idea that he wants to do.'"

Perry — who was a big Batman fan — wanted to play the role himself but wasn't sure whether it should be a series or a film.

McKay countered with his another idea: "My idea was just to do a show about being this incredibly popular, well-known TV guy who’s dealing with addiction. Because the world has changed. You could actually do that show now. Ten years ago, people would have said you’re crazy. But now people can be more upfront about their mental health issues, their addiction issues, and it’s kind of wonderful."

Related: Matthew Perry's Lasting Legacy: How He Won Our Hearts and Found a Mission Helping Others with Addiction

McKay then suggested to Perry that they "do a show that's a fictional version of what you've struggled with."

He pitched Perry to focus on "the idea that everywhere you go, people yell your catchphrases a little bit of your past, the addiction, what it’s like, because everyone views you through this lens of this cheery, bright, multicolored show. And then, meanwhile, you’re a human being who’s dealing with real addiction, real pain."

He told Perry, "It could be an incredible show. It could be really funny. It could really affect people's lives."

But the actor wasn't interested, and McKay recognized that his pitch was "not the kind of idea you push on someone. So I was like, 'OK.'"

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Perry died on Oct. 28 of an apparent drowning. Sources told TMZ that first responders were called to the residence for a cardiac arrest and that no illicit drugs were found at the scene.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed to PEOPLE on Oct. 29 that an autopsy has been completed. The results are pending a toxicology report.

Perry was laid to rest on Friday.

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