Friends Reunion Special - Here's What We Can Tell Fans So Far
By now you've probably heard that the Friends cast is definitely up to something. While we don't have a lot of details (yet) on exactly what they're up to, we do know that they're planning some sort of reunion special. Cue Janice: Oh. My. God.
Rumors about a reboot have been swirling for years, but as far as the stars and creators were concerned, it just wasn't an option. Speaking to Howard Stern on October 7, 2019, Jennifer Aniston, who played Rachel Green on the hit show, dashed the dreams of Friends fans hoping for a revival, saying, "I really think there is an idea that if there is a reboot of the show, it won't be even close to as good as what it was, so, why do it? It would ruin it."
However, just a few weeks later, during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Aniston got the masses whipped into a frenzy with a little tease of something in the works (via E! News). She reiterated that a Friends reboot wouldn't be happening, but told Ellen, "Listen, we would love for there to be something, but we don't know what that something is. So, we're just trying. We're working on something." When DeGeneres prodded for more details, asking if maybe that something was a movie, Aniston replied, "No, we don't know. I don't want to lead people on."
While a reboot or a movie may be off the table, sources confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on November 12, 2019 that a Friends special is in the works.
What is the Friends reunion special release date?
The Friends reunion special is still in its early stages, and we don't know how long it will take to get things pulled together. According to sources, the deal isn't even close to being done, so there's a chance it could take some time or, worst case, end up not happening. We do know, however, that the Friends reunion special is set to air on HBO Max, which launches in May 2020, so that's the absolute earliest we can expect to see it debut. If and when the Friends reunion special airs, you'll have to pony up $15 per month to watch it on the new streaming service. HBO Max and Warner Bros. TV declined to comment when contacted by The Hollywood Reporter.
One thing we do know for sure, though, is that when the Friends special drops it will make your day, your month, your week, or even your year.
Who is in the Friends reunion special cast?
The Friends reunion special, if it gets the green light, would feature all six original cast members: Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer. Sources note that their willingness to move forward is a huge accomplishment in itself, as it goes against all those years of shutting down talks of a reboot. If the special goes through, original series creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman will also be on board.
While we know that the core cast will be at the heart of the special, we don't know yet if other beloved characters will make an appearance. Will we, for example, see James Michael Tyler, who played Gunther on the show? What about Paul Rudd, whose character, Mike, married Phoebe towards the end of the series? Only time will tell, but really, would any Friends reunion be complete without hearing Janice utter her nasally "oh my god"? No, no it would not.
What's the plot of the Friends reunion special?
The Friends reunion is currently planned as an unscripted special, meaning it would likely be a hosted show with the actors interacting and answering questions as themselves, not their characters. In other words, there's not really a plot as much as a conversation.
Guardian notes that although fans don't seem to remember it, a similar unscripted Friends reunion actually already took place in 2016, with five of the six castmates appearing on NBC's An All-Star Tribute to James Burrows. The publication, however, described it as "vapid" and "chummy," saying that audiences went away not "feeling like they had witnessed anything special at all." Will the latest and greatest Friends reunion special avoid that?
At the very least, hopefully the actors can answer some of the burning questions we've had in the years since Friends ended. Are Ross and Rachel still together? Did Joey ever settle down? Did Phoebe and Mike ever have kids? And how are Monica and Chandler coping in the suburbs?