Friends fans who subscribed to HBO Max for the chance to see the original cast reunite 16 years after the series finale have to wait a little bit longer for that dream to come true. As reported by numerous outlets on Friday, production of the reunion special has been delayed from its planned August date to sometime in the future.
HBO Max did not provide an official comment on the decision, which was revealed by all three major Hollywood trades at the exact same time—traditionally the sign of a coordinated press effort.
Originally set to debut when HBO Max launched in May, the Friends reunion special—which will reunite stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry, and Matt LeBlanc on the original soundstage where Friends was shot—was forced to postpone production as the effects of the coronavirus pandemic became apparent worldwide in March.
“The cast and producers are all very excited to go into production, as this will be the first time since the show ended that the whole cast will be together, and on the original sets to reminisce,” a representative for HBO Max said in April. “There are loads of great surprises in store and lots of rare behind-the-scenes footage they are eager to share. We will keep you informed as plans solidify and once we have a firm premiere date.”
While no official restart date was ever announced, both Kudrow and Schwimmer said previously that HBO Max was eyeing August as a possibility.
“I don’t have an update yet on when anything is possible. It sounds like people are hoping and hedging on August or September,” Kudrow told The Hollywood Reporter in May. “But then it just feels like everyone is going to be shooting things as much as possible in those two months and there might be another wave. I don’t know; everything cannot be shot in two months. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Last month, while speaking to Jimmy Fallon, Schwimmer said the target was mid-August, but that a final decision would be made in early August as to whether that would actually happen.
“We’re going to wait and see another week or two if we all determine it’s really safe to do,” Schwimmer said. “If not, we’ll wait until it’s safe.” For now, when it comes to film and television production, that time is to be determined.
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