The former 'Friends' star will play Oscar Madison as well as write and executive produce the new take on Neil Simon's Broadway play.
- Dec 14, 2013
AceShowbiz - Matthew Perry is going to bring "The Odd Couple" back to the small screen. The Chandler Bing of "Friends" is on board to star, co-write and executive produce a remake of the 1970s TV series based on the Neil Simon-written Broadway play.
The Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actor will play the messy Oscar Madison who along with the neat freak Felix Unger is at the center to the story. Jack Klugman and Tony Randall starred as the two mismatched roommates on the original TV series.
The new multi-camera comedy project has received a script plus penalty commitment from CBS. Carl Beverly, Sarah Timberman and Eric & Kim Tannenbaum are going to serve as executive producers as well, with Danny Jacobson set to co-write the pilot with Perry.
"Ever since seeing the movie 'The Odd Couple' when I was 10 years old, it has been a dream for me to play Oscar Madison," Perry, who starred on NBC's short-lived comedy "Go On", tells Deadline. "To be given the opportunity to develop a modern version of it for CBS has put a permanent smile across my face."
He continues, "I met up with a wonderful writing partner in Danny Jacobson. We both have such a passion for the source material that we have instantly become obsessed with making this great. Plus, I think it's time for me to be in front of a live audience again. I miss that. The search for Felix Unger is on!"
"The Odd Couple" play has been adapted into a 1968 film and its 1998 sequel starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. In addition to the 1970s sictom, the characters were depicted on the small screen on a 1975 ABC cartoon and a 1980s series titled "The New Odd Couple".
