David Schwimmer Reveals ‘Friends’ Reunion Special on HBO Max Is Slated to Begin Production in August
It seems the “Friends” reunion special is still a go for August. David Schwimmer, who starred as Ross Geller on the hit series, appeared on the “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Monday night and revealed HBO Max is still holding on to plans of beginning production on the special in August. Though the coronavirus is still at large, should the team decide it’s safe enough to begin shooting, the production will go on.
“It’s supposed to happen maybe in August, the middle of August,” Schwimmer stated. “But honestly, we’re going to wait and see [for] another week or two, if we all determine it’s really safe enough to do. And if it’s not, then we’ll wait until it’s safe.”
News of the reunion special, which brings the entire cast of “Friends” — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer — was confirmed for the launch of HBO Max back in February after months of speculation.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the special was postponed in April and wasn’t able to launch with HBO Max on May 27.
In May, WarnerMedia Entertainmet-Direct-to-Consumer chairman Bob Greenblatt told Variety, “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.”
Last month, one of the show’s co-creators, Marta Kauffman, told The Wrap that plans were underway to begin production of the special.
Directed by Ben Winston, the special is to be shot on its original soundstage, Stage 24, on the Warner Bros. Studio lot in Burbank, Deadline reports.