Thoughts on Matthew Perry Not Wanting a 'Friends' Revival Series
- Jun 5, 2017
- 4 min read
I literally just finished reading a post from ScreenRant, which I'll provide a link for below, saying Matthew Perry AKA Mr. Chandler Bing himself, would NOT want to participate in a Friends reunion/revival series, should it ever occur. Shocking, right? Now, don't get me wrong, I love every single one of the core cast members of Friends but let's be honest, Jennifer Aniston is really the only one that's had much of a career following the end of Friends back in 2004. The others popped up in roles here and there, every now and then but nothing memorable. So the thought of Matthew Perry passing on a long-wanted/potential revival of the series, alarms me.
If we get a reunion of any sorts, whether it be in the form of a feature film, a television special, or a mini-series, I think we can all agree that we would want to see EVERY core cast member return. It just wouldn't have that Friends feel if a member was missing. Each individual played a role in making us laugh in memorable ways that the others couldn't.
To simplify how I feel about this surprising bit of news, I don't want a reunion without the full cast unless it's under very special circumstances. I have my fingers crossed for Perry to change his mind somewhere down the line, but if he doesn't, or if another cast member or more decline to return as well, maybe it's best we leave Friends the way it is and enjoy it for what it was. Hands down, the series for me personally, will go down as one of my favorite sitcoms of all time. I grew up watching the gang run around New York City and no matter how many times I watch any random episode at any given time, I'll still laugh.
How the Series Could Be Revived Without Matthew Perry Returning
1. Mentioning but Not Including Chandler
In the film/television industry today, excessive amounts of sequels and reviving a popular series, are inevitable. Any popular film and/or television franchise at some point in time will be revisited for a potential sequel. So how can Friends carry on without a member of the posse should a revival series even happen? When it comes to Matthew Perry's Chandler, it would be hard to carry on without him seeing as the series ended with him and his wife, Monica, adopting a pair of beautiful baby twins. A way to get around this could be, when Monica is on screen, she can explain to her friends and the audience that Chandler is simply at work, without actually showing her husband at his said workplace. It could work the other way around too with Monica being at her place of work and explaining to us that Chandler is at home with their children. It's an easy way to get around an absent Matthew Perry from the series. Jokes could be thrown around within the series about the absence as well. Imagine Phoebe making a quirky comment about Chandler never being there at their usual coffee shop gatherings. I could see it happening. Another explanation that can be given is Monica and Chandler, within the 14 years gap between the series finale and the revival, have gotten divorced. After building on their relationship from a random hook-up, to eventually falling in love, getting married, starting a family and moving to a better home for their children, a divorce route seems like a terrible idea and would no doubt anger myself and other fans alike. But hey, I'm just throwing out ideas for a series that may never happen.
2. A Revival in the Form of a Spin-Off
A Friends spin-off series? Now why does THAT sound like such familiar territory? Oh, right, the failed Joey spin-off done shortly after the end of the parent series. To follow proper canon, technically the Friends Universe ended with the cancellation of Joey. But if you're a true fan, you'll most likely just ignore the events and creation of that series. Your choice. All I'll say is, if you haven't seen Joey, it's best that you keep it that way. But could a better written/directed/produced spin-off centered on Joey and/or another member of the group succeed this time around? I think so. Picture this: the spin-off centers on one or two core members with the other group members, minus Perry, guests starring individually every now and then. Sounds like it could work. If a spin-off was done, it would certainly be easier to explain Chandler's absence from the series. I'd definitely be game for a spin-off. The question is, who deserves their own series? Does Joey deserve redeeming after his failed solo adventures? Me personally, I'd like a series centered on Phoebe.
If you'd like to see what Matthew Perry said about a potential reunion/revival series, you can hit the link below and check it out for yourself:
What do you guys think about Matthew Perry turning down a potential revival series? Would you guys watch a revival without our sarcastic but lovable Chandler Bing? And if another spin-off were to happen, who would you choose to lead the series? Let us know your thoughts below!
All rights to Friends are owned by NBC.
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