HBO Max may be reuniting the Friends cast, as The Hollywood Reporter has received word from its sources that the upcoming streaming service might be airing one time special reunion Friends episode, which could be a heavy hitter in HBO Max’s arsenal as it gears up for the streaming wars. The consensus is that the cast and the creator would be willing to come back for this reunion if it does happen, and talks are currently under way. The Hollywood Reporter’s sources caution that the deal is far from done and that talks could collapse at any moment. Friends has been a bit of a crown jewel in the brewing combat between streaming platforms.
Netflix had once paid over 80 million to keep streaming rights throughout the year back in late 2018, a deal that will be running its course sometime in 2020, when Friends makes the full transition over to HBO Max, which Warner Media had announced back in July. The Hollywood Reporter’s sources claim Warner Media Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt has been a strong advocate for a Friends reunion, something that fans have been clamoring for since the show completed its historic ten season run.
A reunion had been in such demand that in 2016 NBC gave fans a taste of one by hosting a one time mini reunion dedicated to producer James Burrows. Friends was a sitcom that premiered on September 22nd, 1994 about six friends, three men and three women, sharing the same apartment while dealing with life in New York. Jennifer Anniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt Leblanc and many others. It was a hit and had themes with a sense of timelessness to them, a big reason why Friends has remained one of the most popular shows on streaming to this day. Because of the show’s success, a reunion of the cast would definitely give HBO Max a strong edge in this race of streaming dominance.