It’s been 17 years since Friends ended its 10-season run on NBC. But millions of people around the world are still watching episodes of the beloved sitcom every day.
Fans are still very much in love with the iconic show. But what about the cast? Are they still friends in 2021?
The ‘Friends’ cast finally shot their long-awaited reunion special
Just before the pandemic hit in the spring of 2020, HBO Max was in the process of reuniting the cast of Friends for a reunion special. The idea was for the special to premiere when the streaming service launched, to tie in with the series moving to HBO Max from Netflix.
But before a deal could be reached with stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer, the pandemic put everything on hold for a year.
Each star received millions of dollars and an executive producing credit
According to Page Six, to reach a reunion deal with the original six stars, Warner Bros had to pay $3 million per actor. Each cast member also received an executive producing credit. They finally reunited in Burbank, California, in early April to tape the special that was supposed to take place on the original Central Perk set at Stage 24 on the Warner Bros lot.
But according to fan photos making their way around the internet, it appears they moved the reunion due to safety guidelines. The pics show the famous Central Perk couch sitting outside in front of the fountain from the opening credits.
Yes, the cast of ‘Friends’ are still friends
The six stars of Friends all found instant fame together when their sitcom premiered in 1994. The experience has tightly bonded them for more than a quarter-century.
The ensemble would go on to negotiate their contracts together as the show grew in popularity. Making sure that no one earned more or less than the others.
In the 17 years since the show went off the air, the six have experienced major life events. From marriages to births to divorces – not to mention devastating personal issues – they’ve managed to remain close.
“They’re a very tight-knit group,” a production insider revealed. “Everything they went through together bonded them. It’s a gift to have that kind of friendship.”
The cast still keep in touch via lunch dates
To this day, Aniston and Cox are still best friends in real life. Just like Rachel and Monica, the two have stuck by each other’s side through just about every life event imaginable.
Cox was Aniston’s maid of honor at her wedding to Justin Theroux. And, Aniston is the godmother of Cox’s daughter. Cox and Aniston also have a group chat with Kudrow, despite Cox not being a big fan of texting.
According to Screen Rant, despite the Friends stars remaining close, all six have only been in a room together twice since the show wrapped. However, cameras have spotted two or three at a time grabbing lunch, going out for dinner, or grabbing coffee.
‘Friends’ reunion details will remain top secret for now
According to insiders, HBO Max has a lot riding on the upcoming Friends reunion. They are hoping to grow their subscriber base, as they are the exclusive streaming home for Friends reruns. One source says that the reunion “couldn’t have gone any better.”
“It was super emotional. Just to see the cast together gave me chills,” the insider dished. “Security was so tight as they’re desperate to keep things top secret.”
But for fans hoping to see a reboot of the sitcom or a continuation of the story, that’s not going to happen. As Schwimmer told Graham Norton on his talk show: “I’ll be myself. I’ll be David. There’s nothing scripted. We’re not in character. Although there is one section of it that — I don’t want to give away — but where we, we all read something.”
HBO Max has not yet announced a premiere date for the Friends reunion.
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