'Friends' reunion special postponed due to coronavirus pandemic

The long-awaited Friends reunion was confirmed to finally be happening last month but unfortunately, it is now being delayed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the highly anticipated unscripted reunion special was set for filming on March 23 and 24 but is postponing until at least May.

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The series’ main six cast members were returning to the show’s original soundstage, Stage 24. The celebration of the show is marking their first on-screen get together in a decade and a half.

With the evolving situation revolving around the COVID-19 coronavirus though, filming is being pushed off for a while.

Sources tell THR that a May date is tentative but no official date is being set. The entire entertainment industry is facing issues relating to the virus as production crews cannot gather to film.

The move to bring the cast back together comes after the series left Netflix, making its way over to AT&T and WarnerMedia’s upcoming streaming platform.

In January, the service revealed plans to incorporate HBO, Cinemax and Warner Bros. into their platform, which will cost $16 to $17 per month. HBO Max is WarnerMedia’s exclusive streaming service which is still expecting to be debuting in May 2020. If the reunion special is able to film, it should coincide with the launch. Filming of any production is questionable at the moment though.

The unscripted reunion special is coming at a hefty price according to THR. They previously reported each actor is receiving “more than double their former per-episode fee for the reunion and be paid between $2.5 million and $3 million for the special.”

Directing is being handled by Ben Winston who will also executive produce alongside Kevin Bright, Marta Kauffman and David Crane. All six stars will also be executive producers as well as Emma Conway and James Longman.

Representatives for HBO Max and Warner Bros. reportedly declined to comment on the postponement.

What do you think of the Friends reunion being postponed? Let us know in the comments below.

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