Friends reunion to star BTS, Justin Bieber
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The cast of Friends in 2002 - (from left) David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston and Matt LeBlanc.
PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
LOS ANGELES • The One Where They Get Back Together is finally upon viewers - and the cast of Friends (1994 to 2004) will be joined by famous fans from singer Justin Bieber to former footballer David Beckham, HBO Max announced on Thursday.
The long-delayed and much-hyped reunion, billed as an "unscripted celebration" of the American smash hit television sitcom, will debut on May 27, the streaming platform said in a statement.
A brief trailer for Friends: The Reunion showed the six cast members walking slowly away from the camera with their arms linked together, while the iconic I'll Be There For You theme song plays gently in the background.
Friends - starring David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston and Matt LeBlanc - remains wildly popular even among viewers too young to remember its original run, which ended in 2004.
Parent company WarnerMedia had hoped the reunion would be ready in time to launch its Netflix-rival HBO Max platform last May, before the coronavirus pandemic scuppered production.
It will now arrive on screen exactly one year after the streamer's launch, with its stars reportedly earning US$2.5 million (S$3.3 million) each for taking part.
In addition to the original cast, the reunion will feature guests including soccer legend Beckham, pop stars Bieber and Lady Gaga, K-pop sensation BTS and fashion models Cindy Crawford and Cara Delevingne.
American actor Tom Selleck - who appeared in 10 episodes as a love interest of Monica (Cox) - will take part, as will actress Reese Witherspoon, who played the sister of Rachel (Aniston).
The reunion was filmed at Stage 24 on the Warner Bros Studio lot near Los Angeles, which also served as the original soundstage for the sitcom about a group of close-knit New York friends navigating adulthood.
A remote or virtual reunion was never considered due to the significance of the original soundstage, producers have said.
Friends executive producers Kevin Bright, Marta Kauffman and David Crane also returned for the special.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
