‘Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy' Sets Summer Airdate on ITV in the U.K. (Exclusive)
Blue Ant Studios, an international production studio and rights business, inked the deal with the U.K. channel to release the film at 9 p.m. London time on Aug. 18.
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The studio is overseeing global licensing and distribution of ITN Productions' one-hour film about Friends star Perry, who died at the age of 54 in October 2023.
Commissioned by Peacock/NBC, the documentary first aired on the U.S. streamer in February this year. In its premiere week, Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy made Peacock's top 10 list of most-watched shows.
ITN Productions has since updated the film to reflect the developments in the case of Dr. Salvador Plascencia, who pleaded guilty Wednesday to giving Perry ketamine in the month leading up to the Friends star's death.
'The story of Perry's rise to fame is interwoven with the harrowing tale of his final days,' a plot synopsis says, 'as he allegedly received ketamine from sources the U.S. Attorney claims 'should have known better.''
Friends co-star and Hollywood doyenne Morgan Fairchild — who fans will recall played Chandler's eccentric mother Nora Bing in the NBC series — talks candidly in the film about Perry's drug addiction and working with the actor.
The doc also includes commentary from Hollywood insiders, U.S. Sun journalist Katy Forrester, medical professionals and Martin Estrada, the District Attorney at the Central District of California U.S. Attorney's office at the time of Perry's death, among other contributors.
'This latest sale to ITV in the U.K. is testament to the timeliness of the project in addition to ITN Production's thorough examination of the tragic end of Matthew Perry's life,' says Gerbrig Blanksma, senior vp international sales and partnerships at Blue Ant Studios. 'Sales have already been made in nearly 20 territories globally, and we expect interest in the documentary to continue.'
Sasha Breslau, ITV head of content acquisitions, added: 'We're pleased to bring this in-depth and fascinating film to ITVX, documenting the life of one of television's best loved actors, Matthew Perry. The film hears first hand from those who knew Matthew, as well as telling the story of his untimely passing with updated developments not seen before.'
ITN Productions' head of international programmes Ian Russell said: 'The film got a lot of attention when it was released on Peacock in the U.S. and I am delighted that Blue Ant Studios has found it a home on ITV, so U.K. audiences can appreciate the — now updated — intricacies of this tragic story.'
Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy was executive produced by Ian Russell, head of international programs for ITN, as well as Mike Griffiths and Robert Palumbo. It was directed by Palumbo and the production manager was Nickie Hyde. It was commissioned by Cori Abraham, senior vp, NBCUniversal and is distributed worldwide by Blue Ant Studios. Post was in-house by ITN Post.
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