Friends Reunion Postponed as Makers Hope to Shoot in Traditional Manner

HBO Max is launching on May 27, however many may not be too excited as the ‘Friends’ is not on the table. Earlier, WarnerMedia Entertainment – the force behind HBO Max – had intended for an unscripted, one-off, reunion special of popular show Friends to commemorate the launch of its streaming service but owing to Coronavirus lockdown, the plans are now at a halt.

“We are holding out to be able to get this special done hopefully by the end of the summer,” said Robert Greenblatt, chairman WarnerMedia Entertainment, who further revealed the plans.

“We do think there’s a value to having a raucous live audience experience these six great friends coming back together,” Greenblatt added.

In the times of lockdown, this pandemic has brought upon the world, many shows have opted for virtual way as celebrities shot at their homes, and episodes were compiled to be put up. But with Friends, HBO executives are betting on things getting better for them to shoot the special episode in the traditional way.

“We didn’t want to just do it suddenly on a web call, or six squares and people shooting from their kitchens and bedrooms,” the chairman said.

However, open to all options, WarnerMedia may resort to their least favorite option if things do not work about by the end of summers.

“If this (coronavirus) goes on indefinitely, we may go the virtual route,” Greenblatt said as he confirmed a fall release of the reunion episode.

“But at the moment we are trying to look to the future and get this thing done in a more conventional way,” he said hopefully.