While most of the other Friends found their way after the sitcom wrapped, life after Chandler Bing has been a struggle for Matthew Perry. Star vehicles like Mr. Sunshine and Go On were meant to capitalize on his A-list popularity, but audiences have had trouble seeing the actor as anything other than the wise-cracking and lovably self-effacing character he played for more than a decade. All that said, Perry has now been cast in a role that may help fans view him in a very different light.
According to Deadline, Perry has been tipped to play Ted Kennedy in The Kennedys: After Camelot, Reelz’ long-awaited miniseries. The four-hour project is set to air in Spring 2017 and will serve as a follow-up to the network’s 2011 miniseries: The Kennedys.
Based on J. Randy Taraborrelli’s After Camelot: A Personal History of the Kennedy Family – 1968 to Present, the series will focus on the man known as The Lion of the Senate, as he grapples with the assassinations of his brothers Jack and Bobby, and tries to carry the family’s legacy forward in the wake of these and other tragedies.
Reelz CEO Stan Hubbard offered the following take on the series “as the Reelz brand has evolved to tell the real stories of celebrities’ lives, there’s no bigger celebrity family than the Kennedys, and we’re proud to continue this amazing and dramatic story that began with The Kennedys miniseries.”
Clearly, this will be a weightier role than we’re used to seeing Perry play, so it will be fascinating to see how he handles it. If he can pull this off, it may help springboard him into a new phase in his career.
Katie Holmes will act opposite Perry as she reprises her role as Jackie Kennedy, and filming is set to begin this spring in Toronto. Aside from the above, however, details remain scarce, so be sure to stay tuned for updates.
