The cast of the hit 90s sitcom "Friends" will reunite more than 15 years after the series finale to help launch WarnerMedia's new streaming platform HBO Max, HBO confirmed on Friday.
The show will air in May to coincide with all 236 episodes being dropped on the new streaming platform.
Although the reunion has been widely rumored and likely will be highly anticipated, some fans might be disappointed that a reboot is not on the table. Those wondering if Ross and Rachel are "on a break" may never know the answer.
Instead, the reunion will focus on interviews and retrospectives. The cast will return to the iconic comedy’s original soundstage, Stage 24, on the Warner Bros. Studio lot in Burbank, HBO said.
“Guess you could call this the one where they all got back together — we are reuniting with David, Jennifer, Courteney, Matt, Lisa, and Matthew for an HBO Max special that will be programmed alongside the entire Friends library,” said Kevin Reilly, chief content officer, HBO Max. “I became aware of Friends when it was in the very early stages of development and then had the opportunity to work on the series many years later and have delighted in seeing it catch on with viewers generation after generation.
"It taps into an era when friends – and audiences – gathered together in real time and we think this reunion special will capture that spirit, uniting original and new fans.”
"Friends'" popularity saw a resurgence in recent years thanks to its popularity on Netflix. The show garnered legions of new, younger fans who may have been too young to enjoy the entire series during its original run (1994 to 2004).
"Friends" is one of a number of highly-popular Netflix programs to leave the platform as other companies are trying to capitalize on the streaming wars. Netflix's most-watched show, "The Office," is expected to leave at the end of 2020.
The "Friends" episode library is expected to be a big draw to HBO Max, which is set for a May launch. The streaming service will include HBO's library and sell go for $14.99 a month.
