The highly anticipated Friends reunion is still happening and Lisa Kudrow has already started filming for it. The special was originally planned for a May 2020 release on HBO Max, but has been repeatedly delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. All six main cast members - Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc - are set to appear for the reunion.
Friends first premiered in 1994 and ran for an impressive 236 episodes, or 10 seasons, until its finale in 2004. The show is easily one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time and enjoyed its share of awards, including four Emmy Awards, one Golden Globe, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and eleven People’s Choice Awards. Friends was, and still is, a fixture of popular culture. Fans were so passionate about the show when it was airing that Aniston’s hairstyle became the trademark ‘Rachel’ haircut, referencing her character's name. There was also a spinoff show called Joey, featuring Matt LeBlanc’s character, that aired for two seasons.
Kudrow, who plays Phoebe, recently appeared on the podcast Literally! With Rob Lowe and gave some teasers about the Friends reunion. She insists that the special is definitely still happening because she has already shot material for it. Kudrow said, “There’s different facets to it, and we already shot packages of things […] I pre-shot something already so we’re definitely doing it, because I already shot a little something.” Kudrow also clarifies that the show is not a reboot nor a revival, and is actually not even scripted. The castmates will instead gather and talk about the series, reflecting on the unique experience. Kudrow continued, “It’s not a reboot. It’s not like a scripted thing, we’re not portraying our characters. It’s us getting together, which just doesn’t happen a lot and has never happened in front of other people since 2004 when we stopped.” Lowe asked, “Is it you just having nachos over at [Jennifer Aniston]’s house?” to which Kudrow joked, “Yes, that’s what it is.”
The special is currently scheduled to film this spring, and will reportedly return to the exact same stage where it filmed for ten years, Stage 24 of the Warner Bros. Studio lot in Burbank. This will mark the first time that the full cast is together on camera since the show’s final episode, though five of them did reunite in 2016 for a tribute to James Burrows, who directed several episodes. All of the castmates have expressed their excitement to be back on the same stage together.
With so many releases getting delayed because of the pandemic, it’s great to know that the Friends reunion special is still happening. Fans have been rallying for a reunion for years, though some may be disappointed that it isn’t an actual reboot of the show. Still, it should provide a nice dose of ‘90s nostalgia, and it’s always fun to see co-stars interact with each other while not in character, even if they really do just sit around and eat nachos together.
Source: Literally! With Rob Lowe