Friends episodes to be available to stream on HBO Max from next month

Coronavirus pandemic has caused production shutdowns and delays

All 10 seasons of the 90s sitcom Friends will be available on new streaming platform HBO Max from 27 May.

The Friends reunion special, featuring the entire cast at the original stage set at Warner Bros’ Burbank Studio, California, was set to coincide with the entire series being made available again.

But since social distancing has been inforced in California as a way of preventing the spread of the coronavirus, production on the reunion has been postponed.

As of now the Reunion Specials’ filming and release date remain up in the air.

All six members of the cast were speculated to earn $2.5m to $3m for their participation in the new episode.

Courteney Cox, who plays Monica Geller in the series, recently admitted that she was spending her coronavirus quarantine watching Friends for the first time.

Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel’s US talk show, albeit via Skype, Cox said: “I decided during this time — people love the show so much — I decided to binge-watch Friends.”

She continued: “I just started season one. It’s really good!”

Cox also explained that much of the material is new to her, despite filming it more than 20 years ago.

“I don’t even remember even being on the show,” she said. “I have such a bad memory. I remember loving obviously everybody there, and having fun, and I remember certain times in my life that I was there. But I don’t remember episodes.

She did swear, however, that “by the end of this quarantine I’m going to know so much more”.

Cox previously said she was “so excited” for the reunion to take place, adding: “The exciting thing is that we’re all going to get together for the first time, in a room, and actually talk about the show.”