What David Schwimmer said about the Friends Reunion special - and when it could air

David Schwimmer said fiming for the special will begin next week (Photo: Getty Images)David Schwimmer said fiming for the special will begin next week (Photo: Getty Images)
David Schwimmer said fiming for the special will begin next week (Photo: Getty Images)

David Schwimmer has revealed that the hotly-anticipated Friends reunion special will begin filming in a matter of days.

The actor, who is best known for portraying Ross Geller in the hit 90s sitcom, teased fans about what to expect during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show on Friday (2 April) night.

What did David Schwimmer say?

It was confirmed in February in 2020 that the cast of Friends would be recording an hour-long unscripted special for HBO Max’s streaming service launch last year.

The filming date was originally set for August 2020, but due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic schedule was forced to be pushed back several times.

However, Schwimmer confirmed in an interview on Friday (2 April) that filming is now due to start next week and gave fans a little glimpse into what is in store.

Speaking to host Graham Norton, the actor said: “We’re going to be shooting a Friends reunion next week so I’m hopping on a plane this afternoon.

“I’m gonna see everyone next week for the first time in many years.”

Asked whether he would be appearing in the special as his character Ross Geller or himself, Schwimmer confirmed that the show will be unscripted and the cast will not be in character.

He explained: “There’s nothing scripted. We’re not in character, we’re all ourselves – the real people.

“We are all ourselves, although there is one section of it that I don’t want to give away, but we all read something.”

The actor explained that special measures were being taken to ensure that filming could be carried out safely amid the ongoing pandemic, with fellow cast member Lisa Kudrow stating back in January that she had already “shot a little something” for the special.

She said: “It is not a reboot, it is not like a scripted thing, we are not portraying our characters.

“It is us getting together, which just doesn’t happen and has never happened in front of other people since 2004 when we stopped.”

All six original cast members will return for the special (Photo: Getty Images)All six original cast members will return for the special (Photo: Getty Images)
All six original cast members will return for the special (Photo: Getty Images)

Will the whole cast be returning?

All of the original main cast members, which include Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry, will be returning for the one-off special.

Fans shouldn’t expect the show of old to make a comeback, as the special is to feature reflective interviews with the cast, rather than a scripted episode similar to the original series.

Friends creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane are also believed to be involved in the special.

The episode currently has the working title ‘The One Where They Got Back Together’, and will air on streaming service HBO Max.

The special will be directed by Ben Winston and will be filmed on Warner Bros.’ Studio Stage 24 in Burbank, the same location where the sitcom was filmed for more than a decade.

When will it air?

The air date for the special is yet to be confirmed, although the Hollywood Reporter has suggested that the reunion will likely air in May, almost a year after the debut was initially planned.