‘Friends’ Reunion Special Indefinitely Delayed At HBO Max

Published on April 14, 2020.

The Friends reunion special is still on a break, despite earlier reports claiming that the HBO Max episode would be available for the streaming service’s launch date.

On Friday, April 10, HBO Max announced that the highly-anticipated Friends reunion show will not be available immediately when the platform makes its debut in May. The special – which will reunite Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer on-screen for the first time since the show’s finale – had been scheduled to film in late March, but just like other Hollywood projects, the special’s production has been delayed due to ongoing public health and safety concerns.

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On the other hand, all 236 episodes of the original Friends series will be available on HBO Max on launch day, the exact date for the streaming service’s launch date has yet to be announced.

When the Friends reunion special does eventually film – which is not a new episode in the series – will bring the original cast members together and take place on the show’s iconic original sets to reminisce, share rare behind-the-scenes footage, and reveal even more surprises to fans.

“Guess you could call this the one where they all got back together — we are reuniting with David, Jennifer, Courteney, Matt, Lisa, and Matthew for an HBO Max special that will be programmed alongside the entire Friends library,” Kevin Reilly, chief content officer, HBO Max and president, TBS, TNT, and truTV, previously said in a statement. “I became aware of Friends when it was in the very early stages of development and then had the opportunity to work on the series many years later and have delighted in seeing it catch on with viewers generation after generation. It taps into an era when friends – and audiences – gathered together in real time and we think this reunion special will capture that spirit, uniting original and new fans.”

Ben Winston will direct the Friends reunion special and will executive produce alongside Friends executive producers Kevin Bright, Marta Kauffman and David Crane. All six of the core cast will also serve as executive producers for the special.