The “Friends” reunion was seen as an ideal launch for HBO Max, but the pandemic put such plans on hold. Now, WarnerMedia, parent of the streamer, says taping of the reunion special could still happen.
“We’re holding out for being able to get this special done, hopefully by the end of the summer, if the stars align and we can get back into production. We do think there’s value to having a big, raucous live audience to experience these six great friends coming back together,” WarnerMedia Entertainmet-Direct-to-Consumer chairman Bob Greenblatt told Variety.
He said they didn’t want “a web call with, you know, six squares and people shooting from their kitchens and bedrooms.”
“Friends,” which starred Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry, ended its 10-year run in 2004. But the original hit series will return to HBO Max when it debuts May 27.
At $15/month, HBO Max is more costly than its rivals, but AT&T CFO John Stevens says its high quality is worth it. Content will come from HBO, Warner Bros, TNT, TBS, CNN and other WarnerMedia properties.
The reunion special was set to film on Stage 24, the original “Friends” soundstage on the Warner Bros. Studio lot in Burbank.