David Schwimmer has provided an update on the anticipated Friends reunion special, claiming that it will take place "when it's safe."Schwimmer, who played paleontologist Ross Geller on the show, explained to AP Entertainment how he continues to find it rewarding how newer and younger audiences are still discovering the show in 2020. Regarding the reunion special itself, Schwimmer explains how "We're hoping to shoot it -- I think the hope right now is to shoot in August if, of course, it's safe to do so.""Part of the plan was always to have a live audience component of the show because it's -- by the way, it's unscripted, we're not playing our characters," Schwimmer said. "It's just basically an interview with all six of us reuniting in literally for the first time in probably ten years. So, we'll see. I hope it happens in August, if not it'll be when it's safe to do so."
The Friends Reunion special was intended to be a part of HBO Max's launch in order to attract new subscribers to the platform now that HBO owns the rights to the popular '90s sitcom. Unfortunately, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic derailed those plans. The show originally aired for ten years from 1994 to 2004.
The untitled Friends special, which is directed by Ben Winston, will be available on HBO Max. Original executive producers Kevin Bright, Marta Kauffman and David Crane will also return to work on the special.