Friends big screen reunion rumour is "false"
Story by Jack Foley
RUMOURS that the cast of hit US TV series Friends were planning to reunite for a big screen adventure in the wake of the success of the Sex & The City movie have been firmly dismissed as false.
Both the studio Warner Bros and representatives from two of the show’s stars have told the BBC that there are no such plans in the pipeline.
Reports began to surface earlier this week that a Friends film special might be on the cards because of the success of Sex & The City, which took $55.7m (£28.3m) in its opening weekend at the US box office. One report even suggested that initial scenes would be shot within the next 18 months.
While an unnamed source is alleged to have said: “Jennifer [Aniston], Courtney [Cox-Arquette] and the rest of cast are keen to reprise their roles, under the right circumstances. The success of Sex & The City has really got their wheels spinning about how a Friends film could be just as big, if done right.”
But the director of publicity in the UK for Warner Bros scotched any such hopes by declaring that there was “no truth in the story” when asked by the BBC.
While Cox Arquette’s publicist, John Fogelman, told the BBC he did not know of any plans for a film and Lisa Kasteler, a spokesman for Matthew Perry, added: “Nothing is happening in this regard, so the rumour is false.”
Rumours of a Friends reunion have persisted ever since the popular sextet – comprised of Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox Arquette, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc – parted ways four years ago.
The final episode of Friends attracted a US audience of 52.5m, while 8.6m viewers turned on in the UK.
But as things stand, the cast members are keen to continue pursuing other interests even though success has come at differing levels for most.
Where are they now?
Jennifer Aniston is arguably the most successful having established herself as an A-list big screen actress following roles in hit comedies Along Came Polly and The Break-Up, as well as indie hit Friends With Money. She will next be seen alongside Owen Wilson in Marley And Me and has at least three further movies in post-production, with two awaiting confirmation (including The Senator’s Wife and Gambit).
David Schwimmer, meanwhile, is looking to establish himself as a director following the UK success of last year’s marathon comedy Run, Fat Boy, Run with Simon Pegg. He will also be reprising his role in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa later this year (vocally) and has a prominent role in the forthcoming thriller Nothing But the Truth alongside Kate Beckinsale and Matt Dillon.
Matthew Perry also seems to be in demand, following appearances in The West Wing and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip on TV. He’s also headlined the critically acclaimed indie movie Numb and will next be seen in Birds of America. Following that, he’s due to appear in the Zac Efron movie Seventeen Again.
Also enjoying life in TV is Courteney Cox Arquette who had been headlining her own show Dirt until it was cancelled after its second season. But she will next be seen in the keenly-anticipated Bedtime Stories alongside Adam Sandler and Guy Pearce for Hairspray director Adam Shankman.
Lisa Kudrow may have flopped in the short-lived TV series The Comeback but she’s gradually making a name for herself on the big screen after roles in PS I Love You and the forthcoming Powder Blue with Patrick Swayze and Forest Whitaker. She’s also due to appear in Hotel for Dogs for Don Cheadle and Dirty Girl for director Abe Sylvia.
The actor who would most benefit from a big screen reunion, however, is Matt LeBlanc who has yet to appear in anything since the demise of his spin-off series Joey.