The American sitcom Friends deserves recognition for its spot-on casting. One of the reasons for the show's success is its stars, who went on to become household names during and after its run. Every actor, whether main, recurring, or guest, was perfectly cast.
That being said, a hypothetical U.K. reboot of the series opens doors for a great number of British actors to take on the major roles. Could there be another Matthew Perry (Chandler Bing) wisecracking his miseries away? Could Monica Geller's (Courteney Cox) "I know!" be delivered by any other actor? These are some very large shoes to fill, and a U.K. reboot would indeed take on a life of its own.
Emma Corrin - Rachel Green
Jennifer Aniston's Rachel Green is one of TV's most memorable characters of all time. Her redemption arc, vulnerability, strength, and even her hairstyle made her a huge hit with the audience. Rachel's arc underwent some major changes in 10 years. By the end of the series, she was no longer the woman who had walked out on a toxic relationship, a life of servitude and dependence. Rachel Green, in fact, was a single mother and a successful fashion executive, ready to take on the fashion capital of the world.
Only the incredibly talented Emma Corrin would be able to re-create the nuances in Rachel's character. The young actress played the People's Princess, Diana, on The Crown with finesse and it cemented her star status in no time.
Daniel Radcliffe - Joey Tribbiani
Friends' star Matt LeBlanc and British actor Daniel Radcliffe have something in common: they both make for the perfect boy-next-door type characters. Matt LeBlanc played Joey Tribbiani: an attractive Italian-American and a struggling actor from Queens. At the beginning of Friends, he was roommates with Chandler Bing and lived across the hall from Monica and Rachel.
Unfortunately, many fans felt that as the show progressed, Joey Tribbiani was dumbed down to a ridiculous level. However, Daniel Radcliffe would be perfect to play a character as goofy and lovable as Joey.
Benedict Cumberbatch - Ross Geller
Except for when he lied about how much he scored on his SATs, the truth of the matter is, Ross Geller really was the smartest one amongst his friends. Ross had a Ph.D. in Paleontology from Columbia University. At the age of 26, he assumed more responsibility than anyone in his group. He was a doting divorced dad and he later gave his ex-wife, Carol, away at her second wedding.
A-lister Benedict Cumberbatch is known for playing maverick geniuses and well-rounded characters. From Sherlock Holmes and the British mathematician, Alan Turing (The Imitation Game) to Thomas Alva Edison (The Current War), Benedict's penchant for playing characters that have strengths, flaws, and are dynamic would make him a perfect fit for the role of Ross Geller.
Damson Idris - Chandler Bing
The witty, humorous, and sarcastic Chandler Bing knows a thing or two about jokes, timing, and his audience and he's great at using banter to get out of uncomfortable situations. Matthew Perry's fantastic portrayal of flawed yet relatable Chandler normalized the presence of sarcasm in everyday lives and, at the same time, provoked empathy from the audience. At first, he was a tricky character to figure out with his incongruous commitment phobia and strange desperation to be loved. But as time progressed, Chandler became one of the most well-rounded characters on the show.
British actor Damson Idris of Snowfall and Black Mirror fame delivers good-natured banter every time he's invited on a talk show. He's charming, funny, and he could have a good career playing Chandler Bing in a U.K. reboot.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge - Phoebe Buffay
Could this be more accurate? Lisa Kudrow's Phoebe Buffay was a massage therapist, singer/guitarist/songwriter with a tragic past. She ended up on the streets at the tender age of 14 because her mother committed suicide and her stepfather was back in prison. Nevertheless, she made a life for herself in New York City, and of course, found aromatherapy! Phoebe has a good heart and she always meant well, whether she was caring for animals to the environment.
Not only does Phoebe Waller-Bridge share her first name with this character, she's actually quirky enough to play the ditzy Phoebe Buffay. The actress is best known for her tragi-comedy series Fleabag, a show that epitomizes the best television in years.
Emma Watson - Monica Geller
Monica Geller was the mother-hen of the group and an independent, career-driven young woman with a strong competitive side.
Only a global icon as fierce as Emma Watson could play Monica Geller since the character portrayal requires strength and resilience. Emma could embrace Monica's competitive and kooky side, obsession with cleanliness, and the uncontrollable need to please people. Not to mention, Damson Idris and Emma Watson as Mr. and Mrs. Bing would be fireworks!
Idris Elba - Richard Burke
Who sports a mustache better than the gorgeous Idris Elba? The handsome ophthalmologist Richard Burke (Tom Selleck) was Monica Geller's love interest in Friends. Though the two were 21 years apart in age, their chemistry was undeniable. Monica split up with Richard because she wanted kids and he didn't. She was 20-something and the man was a grandpa - the pairing just didn't sit right.
The idea of Idris Elba cast as Emma Watson's love interest (Richard and Monica) in a U.K. reboot is an excellent one! Imagine, for a second, Damson Idris's Chandler Bing walking up to Idris Elba and calling him a "big tree?" Too funny!
Emilia Clarke - Jill Green
Though Reese Witherspoon's Jill Green was only featured in two episodes of the show, she left a lasting impression on fans. Cast as Rachel Green's youngest sister, Reese did her best to keep up with the spoiled Green-girls narrative. Jill memorized the numbers on her dad's credit cards and, as the first step to making it on her own, shopped for pashmina on his dime.
Casting Emilia Clarke as the mischievous Jill Green would be perfect. The British actress has played a queen before, so she'd do a good job playing an entitled brat. Emilia is a versatile actress - one who can both portray the tragic Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones) and the cheerful Lou Clarke (Me Before You) with equal aplomb.
Dame Emma Thompson - Judy Geller
Monica and Ross's mother, Judy Geller (Christina Pickles), is a pretty awful mother. She disapproves of and ridicules everything her daughter Monica does. She has a good relationship with her son, Ross, whom she holds in high regard, but she undermines Monica by comparing her to him.
Judging by Dame Emma Thompson's performance in Last Christmas, playing another neurotic mother would be a piece of cake. Emma would own the persona of Judy Geller and add something extra to the character.
Hugh Laurie - Jack Geller
Ross and Monica's father, Jack Geller, wasn't as terrible of a parent as his wife, Judy, was. However, he sided with her by not treating his daughter fairly. Jack had the money for Ross's second wedding, but none for Monica's first. He held Ross to a standard of perfection by saying that people like him needed to go for the stars. As for Monica, Jack thanked God she wasn't amongst the women trying to have it all.
Interestingly, Hugh Laurie guest-starred on Friends in the episode, "The One with Ross' Wedding" as the man who sat beside Rachel Green on a flight to London. Hugh would be the perfect actor for Jack Geller. What fun would it be to watch him drink directly from a can of condensed milk, smoke cigars while Monica went to sleep, and be a husband to Emma Thompson's Judy Geller?