F.R.I.E.N.D.S reunion could be happening, thanks to HBO Max
The 90s drama, F.R.I.E.N.D.S, is still a hit among television aficionados and this new piece of information will make every fan happy. Multiple outlets have reported that HBO Max is working on a reunion special with the six core cast members (Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer) and the showrunners. Could we be any more excited?
The Hollywood Reporter, which broke the news first, said talks are underway with creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman. But the sources told the portal no deal has been signed, and the plan is in the initial stage. Once the idea takes some shape, the team will have to figure out the dates of the cast. The whole idea could fall out too.
The show, which told the story of six friends living in New York City, found a new fan base after it aired on Netflix. However, F.R.I.E.N.D.S will be leaving the streaming giant by this year's end and will make a debut on WarnerMedia-backed HBO Max, whose launch date is yet to be announced. Netflix paid $80-100 million to "retain" F.R.I.E.N.D.S till 2019.
This is not the first time a F.R.I.E.N.D.S reunion brought the show into the news, but the creators have always maintained that they won't be shooting more episodes. However, this time, it's being suggested that a reunion special is being shot, adding somewhat more credibility. Further, having a show like F.R.I.E.N.D.S on its platform might give HBO Max the incredible boost it needs.
Notably, during the 25th-anniversary-panel discussion in September, Kauffman confirmed reboot will never happen. "It's not going to beat what we did. We did the show we wanted to do. We got it right, and we put a bow on it," she said.
This development comes days after Aniston, who played the role of Rachel Green in the series, hinted that something is on the cards. She told talk show host Ellen DeGeneres that a F.R.I.E.N.D.S reboot won't happen but added, "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."
