Matthew Perry rules himself out of Friends reunion

Actor Matthew Perry has ruled himself out of the upcoming Friends reunion special. Perry, who played Chandler Bing, is busy rehearsing for his new play ‘The End of Longing’ in London and won’t be able to fly to the United States for the special occasion.

“Regarding Matthew Perry and the James Burrows tribute, Matthew ill not be attending, as he is in London in rehearsals for his play,” Perry’s representative Lisa Kastelar told US Weekly. “NBC executives were aware of this prior to their TCA announcement yesterday. Matthew may tape something for the tribute. In other words, this is not the reunion people have been hoping for.”

The US network announced on Wednesday that producers were hoping “all six will be in the same room at the same time” for a tribute to comedy director James Burrows on 21 February. Fans were warned from the start that busy schedules may make it “logistically” impossible.

Burrows directed 15 episodes of Friends as well as working on Will and Grace, Mike and Molly, Frasier, and Cheers which he co-created. Cast members from all of the shows are expected to appear on the tribute episode. 

Matt LeBlanc, who played Joey, tweeted “Should be a good time!” after the news broke but as of yet there has been no word from Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer.

Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman ruled out a reunion during a 2015 interview, saying it would “never happen” and that fans had to “let it go”.

Kudrow, who played Phoebe Buffay, once said that after a decade the show would be “so different that it wouldn’t be Friends anymore” while Aniston, who played Rachel Green, insisted that it “ended at the right time when people still wanted more”.