The Friends reunion is happening! I repeat, the Friends reunion is happening! Though not in the way most would’ve hoped for…
Airing for 10 seasons, from 1994 to 2004, Friends accumulated quite the fan base during its run. In the years subsequent, re-runs of the popular show reignited adoration from old fans and drew in a whole new crowd to the fandom. Since the show’s conclusion, any projects where cast members have appeared on screen together has gotten fans excited. Inevitably, hopes turned to a moment where all six actors would once again grace the screen simultaneously.
Then in 2019 reports emerged that all six of the series’ main actors were in talks to be part of a reunion special for the show’s 25th anniversary. The special was set be an integral part of HBO Max’s launch as a streaming service.
Initially, planned for a March 2020 start to production, the Friends reunion was put on halt due to the pandemic.
However, a year later…
David Schwimmer appeared on The Graham Norton Show to discuss upcoming projects. In the video uploaded to BBC’s YouTube channel, conversation swayed towards details concerning the upcoming reunion.
In the interview, the actor confirmed the news, and mentioned that he would be boarding a plane to Los Angeles to shoot the reunion the following week. When asked about the nature of the reunion the actor stated:
“I’ll be myself I’ll be David. There’s nothing scripted. We’re not in character. We’re all ourselves.”
The actor did however tease that there would be a section where the actors would all “read something”. But that’s not the cast’s only involvement…
Roles
Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer are also listed as executive producers on IMDb. David Crane and Marta Kauffman, the original executive producers of the show, are also on board in the same role. Ben Winston meanwhile will be directing the special.
April 11 marked the end of filming for the much-anticipated reunion. While backstage photos were posted by a member of the cast, and photos of progress on the set were shared briefly, they were soon taken down.
No release date has been announced, however, the special is expected to air during 2021. Reactions surrounding the nature of the reunion have been mixed, but one fan on twitter expressed their elation:
Though the actors won’t be reprising their roles, the reunion special may just give fans a moment that they can cherish for years to come.
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