'Friends: The Reunion': Air time, how to live stream and all you need to know about sitcom's special episode

The famous cast will not be playing Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Ross but themselves
PUBLISHED MAY 16, 2021
The entire cast of 'Friends' will reunite for a special episode (Instagram@jenniferaniston)
The entire cast of 'Friends' will reunite for a special episode (Instagram@jenniferaniston)

They'll be there for you, come May 27 on Warner Media’s streaming service HBO Max. Yes the gang is back together, with several famous friends in tow as 'Friends' finally returns. After years of discussions, fans are finally getting what they have waited for, with a special episode appropriately titled 'The One Where They Get Back Together' to honor the sitcom's 25th anniversary.

The episode was initially slated to film on March 23 and 24, 2020. However it was delayed due to the pandemic. Jennifer Aniston chose to see the positive in the postponement and said, "You know what? This has also given us more time to make it even more exciting and more fun than it would have been. So I choose to see it as the glass is half-full that it got postponed. Look, we’re not going anywhere. You’re never going to get rid of Friends, sorry. You’re stuck with us for life guys."

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Air time and how to live stream

The episode begins streaming on HBO Max on May 27. You can subscribe to HBO Max by visiting HBOMax.com to sign up. Those who had HBO before HBO Max launched, possibly already have access. HBO Max is currently available only in the US and Puerto Rico. So far, there is no word on the episode's availability in markets that do not have HBO Max. Zack Snyder’s 'Justice League', however, another HBO Max production, was released in other countries on other streaming platforms such as Sky Cinema in the UK and in Australia on streaming service Binge. Similar arrangements may be made for 'Friends: The Reunion'.

In case you need to catch up on your 'Friends' watching before the reunion, all 236 episodes of 'Friends' are now available on HBO. 

Cast

While the entire cast will be a part of the special episode, HBO Max has made it very clear that they will not be playing the characters that made them famous but rather will be playing themselves. HBO Max in a statement said, "In order to avoid any misunderstanding about what this special is, we want to make it very clear that this is not a new, original episode of the series. The cast will be appearing as themselves, not as their beloved characters."

The cast members have reportedly been paid between $2.5 million to $3 million for the episode, significantly more than their $1 million per episode rates when 'Friends' was still on the air. The episode will show the cast revisiting the set and reminiscing along with some other surprises. Lady Gaga, David Beckham, Justin Bieber, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Malala Yusafzai, Kit Harrington and K-Pop sensation BTS are expected to be some of the special guests to make an appearance on the special episode.

Trailer

To get a sneak peek of what's in store come May 27, here's a look the teaser below. While it doesn't show us too much, the cast walking with their arms around each other, hearing the theme song did give us goosebumps. 



 

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