Because of the pandemic, the filming is further delayed: fans of the TV series will still have to wait to see the full cast
The last episode of Friends aired in the United States on May 6, 2004, thus closing a real era: we are talking about the most famous American TV series ever, loved and followed by millions of people around the world. Just think that the last episode was seen by more than 52 million viewers only in the U.S.A.
The TV series aired for about 10 years and also conquered the Italian audience. It told the story of 6 friends and neighbors in Manhattan. The news of the cast's reunion has therefore caused enormous enthusiasm among fans, who can't wait to see their characters chatting and laughing like in the old days. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic that is causing enormous concern in the United States, filming has been further postponed until a later date. The special episode will be aired on American streaming platform HBO Max, but it will surely come to Italy as well.
Friends: why has filming been postponed?
The numbers related to the Coronavirus in America remain worrisome. For that reason, video streaming platform HBO Max has decided to postpone the filming of the Friends reunion. It was originally scheduled to be filmed in late March in Warner Bros.' Theater 24, the historic set of the TV series.
However, the sudden outbreak of the pandemic had caused the first stop, followed later by the home isolation that has forced millions of people around the world to stay home. David Schwimmer, who plays Ross in the series, had revealed during an interview that filming had been postponed until August 2020. Unfortunately, the still serious situation in which the United States finds itself has convinced HBO Max to postpone filming until a later date. According to several sources, they will not be shot before the autumn.
The return of Friends: a special episode for fans
It will not be a new season, nor an exclusive episode, but a real special of about two hours where the actors will tell the audience, which will be present live as well as connected in streaming, remembering the years spent behind the camera. We can then see the full cast of actors: Jennifer Aniston (Rachel), David Schwimmer (Ross), Courteney Cox (Monica), Matthew Perry (Chandler), Matt LeBlanc (Joey) and Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe), along with them the creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman. No script then, but a lot of talk and memories that will entertain fans bringing them back, at least in thought, to the nineties.
Unfortunately we will have to wait, but always looking at the glass half full, just like Jennifer Aniston who spent some positive words during an interview: "This situation gives us more time to make it even more exciting and fun than it would have been. So I choose to look at the glass half full of the fact that it's been postponed. We're not going anywhere anyway. You won't be able to undo Friends, I'm sorry. You're going to be dealing with us for the rest of your lives, guys."
Watching Friends on Netflix
In Italy you can currently watch Friends on Netflix, the platform had purchased the rights until 2019 so that then the exclusivity would pass right to HBO Max, but due to the pandemic the deal should be off. So those who have not yet had a chance to see the cult TV series of the nineties still have time: just connect to Netflix and type the title in the appropriate search bar. You will be immediately catapulted to New York in a world made of chatter, laughter on the famous sofa in Central Perk or in the house of the protagonists.