Filming on HBO Max‘s long-awaited Friends reunion has finally wrapped over a year since the unscripted special was first announced. The special was originally set to debut as part of HBO Max’s launch. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, it was delayed twice last year. The highly-anticipated Friends: The Reunion was expected to be taped on the iconic show’s original Stage 24 soundstage on the Warner Bros. Studio lot in Burbank. However, according to behind-the-scenes photos from the set that have surfaced online during the weekend, the special was actually filmed in front of the iconic fountain, which was famously seen during the show’s opening credits. Check out the photos below!
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THE CENTRAL PERK COUCH AND THE ICONIC FOUNTAIN IS BACK FOR THE FRIENDS REUNION IM FINE pic.twitter.com/1B4zaF2h5H
— nicole (@anistonily) April 9, 2021
| We got a close version of the #FriendsReunion set pic.twitter.com/o2H9q2deCw
— MLP Updates (@MatthewPerryNew) April 9, 2021
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The unscripted Friends: The Reunion special is directed by Ben Winston, who will also serve as an executive producer along with the original producers Kevin Bright, Kauffman and Crane. The six core stars will also executive produce alongside Emma Conway and James Longman.
The special is expected to feature Jennifer Aniston Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc, who have portrayed the roles of Rachel, Phoebe, Monica, Ross, Chandler and Joey. Each of the beloved cast members will reportedly earned $3 million – $4 million for the special.
Created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, Friends had lasted over ten seasons from 1994-2004 which followed the story of six friends who lived in New York City. Even though 25 years had passed since its debut, the 62-time Emmy Award-nominated series stood the test of time and is still garnered as one of the best TV series of all time and had also become a pop culture phenomenon known to all ages.
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It was previously reported that WarnerMedia had successfully won back the exclusive streaming rights for all 10 seasons of Friends for price of $425 million. According to a previous report, it was Warner Media Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt, who was responsible for pushing to develop a Friends reunion special.
