Friends TV Show Reunion Isn’t A New Episode But Will Be On Original Set
HBO Max head Bob Greenblatt confirms the highly-anticipated Friends special isn't a new episode, but will take place on the original set.
HBO Max head Bob Greenblatt reiterates that the highly-anticipated Friends cast reunion won't be a new episode, but will take place on the show's original set. Even now, over fifteen years since it ended its 10-season run, Friends remains one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time. Fans were horrified to learn the series would be leaving its previous streaming home Netflix for the brand new HBO Max, but they were placated by news that a reunion featuring all six original stars - Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer - would be available at launch.
At least, that was the original plan. The Friends reunion was supposed to be filmed in March, but the coronavirus pandemic put it on hold indefinitely. This means that while the entire series will be available on launch day (which is tomorrow, May 27), the reunion will not be. Luckily, HBO Max will still feature plenty of content, including shows like Games of Thrones and The Big Bang Theory and movies like almost every DC film and The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Ahead of HBO Max's launch, Greenblatt sat down with Recode Media to discuss the newest service to enter the streaming wars. When it came to the Friends reunion, Greenblatt revealed they were completely ready to film it - even had the set constructed - before it was delayed. He didn't give any indication of when they will get to try again, but he did confirm that the reunion is exactly that, and not a new episode. "It's a reunion special, they're not playing their characters," said Greenblatt. "But the set is - they're gonna do it for some of it on the set, 'cause everyone loves that apartment set. But yes, it's a reunion show, not - they're not playing those characters again."
Greenblatt also insisted they aren't looking for a virtual reunion, similar to what some casts have been able to do during this pandemic. The Friends special will be in-person, and hopefully with a live audience. The biggest issue now is that it's unclear about when it will actually happen, seeing as the pandemic has made large gatherings a terrible idea. It can be assumed that as soon as Greenblatt and the others feel it is safe, they'll hurry to film the Friends special.
Arguably, the Friends reunion is one of HBO Max's biggest draws (along with Zack Snyder's Justice League, which also will not be available at launch). Therefore, Greenblatt is likely hoping that things can get moving as soon as possible so that fans aren't waiting for too long. Additionally, some might be disappointed that there won't be a brand new episode of Friends for them to consume, but it'll still be exciting to see the cast gather in the iconic apartment once more. The extra wait is frustrating, but in the end, it'll be worth it.
Source: Recode Media