Friends first hit the screens in 1994 and aired until 2004, when its last episode broke the hearts of millions of fans and no fresh episodes were made again. The sitcom followed the life of 6 close friends – Rachel Green, Monica Geller, Ross Geller, Phoebe Buffay, Chandler Bing, and Joey Tribbiani. Fans were lucky enough to be gifted a reunion episode in 2021, after years of talk about its possibility.
5.3 million viewers tuned in to the one-off Friends reunion featuring the 6 main actors – Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Matt Le Blanc, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry, and Lisa Kudrow – getting together as themselves,to discuss the iconic sitcom. In the reunion, fans saw the gang revisit the set, speak with recurring actors (such as Maggie Wheeler and James Michael Taylor), producers, and writers in an hour-long feature hosted by James Corden. With Friends on modern audience's minds, there's never been a better time to humor a reboot.
6 Rachel Green Played By Zendaya
Rachel Green starts the show as a spoiled, clueless young woman who'd left her fiancé at the altar and was living off her daddy's credit cards. Throughout Friends, audiences see Rachel blossom into a good-natured, loyal, and hardworking individual who found her calling in the fashion industry. Her character arc was one of the most notable in Friends, as she developed from her somewhat-bratty ways into a mother working for Ralph Lauren.
Zendaya is a fashion icon in real life – always wearing bright colors/prints and bold statement pieces – and is best known for her roles in Dune (2021), SpiderMan: Homecoming (2017) and The Greatest Showman (2017). Who better to play the role of fashionista Rachel Green than Zendaya herself?
5 Phoebe Buffay Played By Skai Jackson
Phoebe Buffay is the shining star of the group. She offers a 'weird but wonderful' style, is a bit childlike, and a kind-hearted, devoted friend. Consistently throughout Friends, Phoebe mentions living on the streets, living in Prague, being fluent in French, her estranged family, and so much more. The character of Phoebe is so surprising, and incredibly well-played by Lisa Kudrow. Skai Jackson could definitely offer an equally upbeat, eccentric dynamic to the character. Phoebe Buffay is kind and funny, and a modern version of her character would have to embody that – something Jackson could easily pull off.
4 Monica Geller Played By Lily Collins
Monica Geller is a firm but fair character, and took on a mothering role to her 5 best friends. Courtney Cox nailed the role of Monica. She was obsessed with cleanliness, was bossy, loud, and competitive, but nonetheless stayed a dependable and supportive friend. Through Monica's relationship with Chandler, they became one of the most beloved couples on Friends.
Lily Collins is known for her performance in roles such as Inheritance (2020), The Blind Side (2009), and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019). Lily Collins, despite being British, speaks with a phenomenal American accent – so much so that some fans don't even know she is British – and would encompass Monica's complex nature perfectly.
3 Chandler Bing Played By Jack Whitehall
Chandler Bing is probably the most relatable character in Friends – he's the first one to embarrass himself or make a mistake, and struggles to quit smoking over the course of the series. Chandler struggles with his commitment issues after not properly dealing with his parents' divorce, and is desperate to make his friends laugh.
With Friends on modern audience's minds, there's never been a better time to humor a reboot. Having done comedy shows and stand up, he's also played comedic roles in films and TV shows such as Jungle Cruise (2021), Bad Education, and Fresh Meat. Jack Whitehall's sense of humor revolves around his Chandler-like self-esteem, as he often centers his jokes around his slightly awkward/clumsy personality.
2 Joey Tribbiani Played By Noah Centineo
Joey Tribbiani is the group's loveable rogue, a womaniser who famously used the chat-up line "how you doin'?" Matt Leblanc played Joey Tribbiani in Friends, a dimwitted, struggling actor who cares deeply for the friends, often acting as a protector to the girls: Monica, Rachel, and Phoebe. In one episode, fans saw Joey in Monica's apartment with a baseball bat because of a misunderstanding that she was cheating on Chandler.
Noah Centineo would make the perfect modern-day Joey Tribbiani. Often playing the heartthrob character in romcoms such as To All The Boys I've Loved Before and Sierra Burgess Is A Loser, Noah Centineo could keep Joey's preference of noncommittal relationships alive.
1 Ross Geller Played By Timothée Chalamet
Ross Geller, played by David Schwimmer, is a palaeontologist and the only one of the group that thinks dinosaur fossils are interesting – which often plays a role in the character's jokes. As Monica's brother, Chandler's college roommate, and Rachel's ex for most of the show, Ross often finds himself at the butt of Friends' jokes. But when he's not being laughed at, fans can see his sweet – albeit slightly annoying – side.
Ross Geller isn't a bad person, but his insecurities rule his life, so it can be difficult to make him a likeable character. Timothée Chalamet has had roles in huge hits like Homeland, Interstellar and Dune, and it's his range that would allow him to play a slightly complex character like Ross Geller with ease.
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