After lengthy on-again, off-again negotiations, the “Friends” star has signed on to star in Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme’s new untitled drama for NBC, previously known as “Studio 7.” D.L. Hughley and Steven Weber also have been cast in the ensemble show, set behind the scenes at a fictional long-running sketch-comedy series in the mold of “Saturday Night Live.” Perry will play Matt Albie, a genius comic writer who was forced out of his position as co-executive producer on the sketch show after a dispute with the network, UBS. Sorkin wrote the part with Perry in mind.

Weber will play UBS chairman Jack Rudolph, who is eyeing a higher position with the network’s corporate owner.

Hughley will play Simon Stiles, one of the sketch show’s three stars.

“A lot is going to be asked of this cast,” Sorkin and Schlamme said in a statement. “We still have a number of roles to fill to complete the ensemble, but you couldn’t hope for a better start than these incredibly gifted actors.”

The project reunites Perry with Sorkin and Schlamme after the actor’s guest stint on their show “The West Wing” earned him Emmy nominations in 2003 and 2004.

Perry was in high demand this pilot-casting season, with a number of projects at various networks courting him for the lead. He is the third “Friends” star to make a return to series television after Matt LeBlanc’s turn in the “Friends” spinoff “Joey” and Lisa Kudrow’s starring role on HBO’s “The Comeback.”

Perry next will be seen in the title role of TNT’s based-on-a- true story telefilm “The Ron Clark Story,” slated to air in August.