Ever since the famous purple door with its yellow frame shut for the last time, fans of “Friends” have openly wished for a return of the famous sitcom and a chance to see their favorite characters fulfill their dreams.
With TV shows like “Breaking Bad,” “Downton Abbey,” and recently “The Sopranos” all taking to the big screens, it didn’t seem too much of a stretch to imagine a cinema-sized return for the most famous of New York roommates. However, fan hopes have been cut down to size as it has emerged from TV bosses that there are no new plans afoot for a “Friends” movie.
This news comes as a shock to many die-hard followers, as the cast’s key players continue to thrive in their careers. Matt LeBlanc has been active in Showtime comedy “Episodes,” David Schwimmer was praised for his appearance as Robert Kardashian in “The People v. O.J. Simpson,” and Matthew Perry who has been vocal about his past substance abuse issues is set to publish an eagerly awaited memoir, according to NME.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Aniston has starred alongside Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell on hit Apple+ TV series “The Morning Show,” Courtney Cox has featured in the latest installment of “Scream,” and Lisa Kudrow recently explored her family lineage in the US version of “Who Do You Think You Are?”
The weight of the “Friends” franchise continues to loom large in the cultural zeitgeist, with the TV show streamed heavily through lockdowns, and reams of merchandise including clothing, bath bombs, and even chopsticks continuing to sell well across the internet and in retail stores.
“Friends”-mania isn’t just traditional fans indulging in nostalgia either, ET Online reported on how “Friends” is becoming a favorite choice for Gen-Z with youngsters beginning to take stock of the show’s timeless humor, and deep stories of friendship.
“Friends” even produced its own casino games, which may not be noteworthy to everyone, but certainly is to the untold millions of gamers internationally. Although there are plenty of games related to pop culture in the casino category, the “Friends” game on Foxy Bingo stands out. This is because most pop culture games in this space take the form of slots, rather than bingo rooms — and few are based on sitcoms, as opposed to superhero films and the like.
Despite the past couple of years being a tough affair for most people, 2021 brought an unexpected gift into the laps of “Friends” acolytes. The original cast of Friends came together for “Friends: The Reunion” – a documentary celebration filled with memories, laughter, and some tears along the way. With members recounting some of their favorite moments from the sitcom.
While aiming to bring closure to the show, it, of course, raised the hopes of fans who encouraged TV bosses and the cast themselves via social media to bring the show back for another series, or feature-length installment.
For fans hoping to see a cinema screen adaption of the cult classic show, it appears the popcorn order may have to be put on hold a while longer. However, in a recent interview, series creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, along with producer Kevin Bright, poured cold water on ideas of a movie spin-off claiming that it “wouldn’t be as good” as the show, claiming that the ending of the TV show was “perfect” and should be left alone.
While a full-fledged cinematic revival is off the cards, fans can rejoice in the fact that they have 10 seasons and 89+ hours of classic episodes to watch over, and over, and over again.
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