Pee-wee's big friendship with Joe Manganiello

The unlikely friendship between Pee-wee Herman and Joe Manganiello works perfectly in the quirky screen universe of Pee-wee's Big Holiday (an original movie that premieres Friday on Netflix and in theaters in 10 cities, including Los Angeles and Yonkers, N.Y.).

Manganiello (playing a version of himself) is a motorcycle-riding rebel beefcake who clicks instantly with the bow-tie-clad Pee-wee (Paul Reubens), who has never left his small town.

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Curiously enough, Reubens and Magic Mike hunk Manganiello are BFFs offscreen as well.

“Life is like that — you never really know who is going to be your friend,” says Reubens, 63. “Chemistry is chemistry. Joe’s my friend, and I’m just crazy about him.”

When it became clear Reubens was bringing his iconic character back to the screen, he immediately called Manganiello for the role of the friend who sparks Pee-wee's cross-country road trip —  long before he had even finished the script.

Manganiello jumped at the chance.

"I told him I didn't even have to see a script — I'd do it," Manganiello says. "There’s no bucket list where you write down, 'Play in a comic duo with Pee-wee Herman.' I still cannot fathom it."

Manganiello, 39, says his Pee-wee worship began while growing up in Pittsburgh. He would wake his younger brother on Saturday mornings to catch Pee-wee’s Playhouse on TV and cherished the “mind-blowing” experience of seeing 1985's Pee-wee’s Big Adventure in a theater.

Sneak peek: Pee-wee Herman is back in 'Big Holiday'

The duo clicked in person in 2011 when the True Blood star spotted Reubens at an HBO Emmy party and pushed past revelers to get to him.

“I finally worked my way over to him and said, ‘I’m your biggest fan,' ” Manganiello says. “And we just started talking.”

Manganiello invited Reubens to join him at a career retrospective exhibit for Tim Burton (who directed Big Adventure) at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. He was thrilled when Reubens would motion to take off the tour headset for a personal explanation.

“It was like having Paul Reubens as your tour guide. He’s a wealth of Hollywood stories,” Manganiello says. “Paul was on a couch at a party where Richard Gere first courted Cindy Crawford. Jack Nicholson asked Paul’s advice as to whether or not he should do (Batman). Paul went double-dating with Madonna. The greatest, wildest stories.”

The two have been hanging out ever since. Reubens was even a guest of honor at Manganiello’s 2015 wedding to Sofia Vergara.

“He was the big hit of the wedding,” Manganiello says. “The whole weekend, people kept coming up to me telling me how much they loved Paul. He's like family.”

Reubens returns the compliment, saying he’s always amazed at how different the celebrity couple is from the public perception.

“(Joe) and his wife together are the dorkiest, nerdiest people. It’s just hilarious. People don’t get to see that side," Reubens says.

On the Pee-wee set, Manganiello had problems staying in character next to his hero ("You'd want to watch Pee-wee, but you had to work"). Manganiello also had to refrain from talking in Pee-wee cadence after a lifetime of repeating all the best lines.

But he loved it.

“I’m just happy to be a part of this," Manganiello says. "It’s one of those magical things that popped up.”