New images have been revealed for the much-anticipated Friends reunion on HBO Max. Courtney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc all come together for the upcoming special for the streaming service. Officially titled Friends: The One Where They Got Back Together, it's set to release on May 27, 2021.
It's been almost two decades since the cult favorite sitcom wrapped up its 10-year run in 2004. Despite that, Friends continues to be at the forefront of pop culture thanks to its regular re-runs on TV, as well as, availability on streaming services. Aside from its already massive fan base, the community has also grown over the last several years as younger viewers discover the show. Given its enduring popularity, the idea of a reunion has always been floated around, but nothing has come out of it until HBO Max stepped in and actually made it into a reality.
As the Friends reunion's release nears, marketing for the project officially begins with the release of first-look images at the much-anticipated TV event. The stills, courtesy of People, show all the actors in various settings, including one where they're back on the iconic couch at Monica and Rachel's apartment. Check them out below:
Seeing the cast back at Monica's apartment is definitely nostalgic. Schwimmer is not in the frame and chances are that he's the one the rest of the cast are looking at — perhaps he's telling some ridiculously funny story as Ross did back in the show's original run. It's worth noting, however, that the Friends reunion will not be a continuation of the sitcom. Despite getting a title that follows the same format as the official episodes, the special won't be scripted, and the actors won't be reprising their roles which could be a bummer for many, although Schwimmer previously teased a surprise within the show. Instead, it will more likely be a roundtable (as seen in the third photo) where they reminisce about their special memories working on the project.
Aside from the main six actors, the Friends special will also be featuring 18 guests; the selection includes actors who guest-starred in the sitcom including Tom Selleck (Richard), Maggie Wheeler (Janice), Elliott Gould and Christina Pickles (Ross and Monica's parents), and Reese Witherspoon (Jill). But it also has celebrities who do not have any connection to the show, perhaps beyond being a fan of it themselves such as Justin Bieber, BTS, James Corden, and Kit Harington among others. As exciting as it will be to see them, it could also be a cause for concern since the TV event is only an hour long. Having these many guests will expectedly take away screen time from the cast members.
Source: People