Did You Know This ‘Iron Man’ Star Almost Played Chandler Bing Instead of Matthew Perry on ‘Friends’?

Published 08/09/2023, 4:27 AM EDT

via Imago

Friends without Matthew Perry might seem unimaginable when fans look back at his stellar performance in the show. The actor perfectly brought out the sarcastic humor and quick-wittedness of Chandler Bing for ten seasons. In fact, many would agree it was quite a task to play a character who expressed himself with one-liners and awkward physical expressions. But being a comedian at heart, Perry embodied the role at his best, giving this amazing version of the character to remember for decades. However, fans might not know that they would have never come across Perry if this Iron Man star had said ‘yes to the fan-favorite role.

Today, Jon Favreau is one of those names in the entertainment industry that does not need an introduction. The actor-turned-director has played an essential role in MCU for decades. From serving as an executive producer to starring in the iconic Iron Man franchise, he has done it all. He played the role of Tony Stark’s bodyguard and chauffeur in many films. But long before all that happened, he was just an actor finding his way through stardom.

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During that time, the New York native got the chance to play Chandler Bing in Friends. Since the now 56-year-old had already appeared in movies like Rudy, he got his hands on the role first. However, Favreau turned down the offer because he wanted to focus on other projects.

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Eventually, Matthew Perry landed the role, making it his own for a lifetime. And though the filmmaker might have not taken that iconic role, he still appeared on the show getting a cameo.

Jon Favreau played the role of Monica Geller’s boyfriend in Friends

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Friends was all about the close-knit group of adults navigating their lives in New York City. Before finding their right paths in the show, all of them had their share of experiences. Including Monica Geller, who met and dated several men before finding the true love of her life in Chandler Bing. One of her most notable and longest relationships was with Pete Becker. But fans might have noticed that young Jon Favreau played this role.

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Becker was a millionaire and adored Monica deeply. He even bought a restaurant so she could work as the head chef there. However, things did not go well for both of them because they fell for each other at the wrong time. In the end, Monica left him because of his obsession with becoming a UFC fighter.

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Do you think Jon Favreau would have played Chandler Bing more appropriately? Drop your comments below.

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Shikha Arya

2072 articles

Shikha Arya is an experienced entertainment writer at Netflix Junkie, having contributed over 1000 articles to the platform. She holds a Master's degree in English Literature from a prestigious university and has honed her writing skills over three years. Shikha's forte lies in crafting thought-provoking pieces about the lives of pop culture icons.

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