HBO Max’s high-profile “Friends” reunion special has been inevitably delayed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Filming of the untitled unscripted reunion special has set a new date which, should it happen, will still see the special be ready in time for the launch of the new streaming service sometime in late May. The situation is reportedly being evaluated day by day.
“Friends” stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer are all set to return to the comedy’s original soundstage, Stage 24, on the Warner Bros. Studio lot in Burbank to film the special. It will join all 236 episodes of the Emmy-winning NBC series which will be available to subscribers at the launch of HBO Max.
Meanwhile overseas, Michael Mann’s high-profile HBO Max series adaptation of “Tokyo Vice” has halted production. The series is following suit with other major networks and streamers as they officially halt shooting due to the ongoing pandemic.
The Ansel Elgort-led series, based on Jake Adelstein’s non-fiction first-hand account of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police beat, has been filming in Japan since only March 5th. Ken Watanabe and Rinko Kikuchi co-star in the ten-episode series.
Numerous other TV productions have also shut up shop recently including the Sky drama “Britannia,” the BBC One missing persons drama “Baptiste,” and the David Tennant-led “Around the World in 80 Days” mini-series.
One series that did manage to wrap before the end is Marvel Studios and Hulu’s “Helstrom” with cast member Alain Uy confirming on social media they were able to complete the first season before shutting down.
