Jennifer Aniston has finally spoken from the heart about something ‘Friends‘ fans have debated for years: whether the beloved sitcom could ever return for a sequel or reboot.
In a deeply emotional interview, Aniston opened up about why she cannot imagine stepping back into the shoes of Rachel Green, and how the death of her longtime co-star and friend, Matthew Perry, changed everything.
Jennifer Aniston Says ‘Friends’ Sequel “Would Be Literally, Physically Impossible”
When Harper’s Bazaar U.K. asked Jennifer Aniston if she’d ever consider a ‘Friends‘ sequel, her answer stopped the conversation cold midway. Pausing for a moment, Aniston said, “It would be literally, physically impossible.” And that’s how most of us felt, too. Because how do you imagine ‘Friends‘ without Chandler Bing? How do you bring back the magic when one of the brightest lights is gone?
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As we already know, Matthew Perry died in 2023 from the acute effects of ketamine, with drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid addiction, listed as contributing factors.
Jennifer went on to say how heartbreaking it was “that he had so many demons. But boy, for someone who had that much inner turmoil, he sure got to laugh a lot, and that was everything to him.” Even at his lowest, he made the world laugh.
More Than Co-Stars, They Were Family
If you grew up watching ‘Friends‘, you’ve probably felt the bond these six shared. Jennifer, Courteney, Lisa, David, Matt, and Matthew built a bond that survived fame, money, and time. They stood together through every season, and even during salary negotiations, they refused to let one person earn less.
Jennifer often claims that ‘Friends‘ completely shaped her life. She said, “It completely formed who I was. It was pure joy. I looked forward to it every day…couldn’t wait to get to work. I couldn’t wait to see those people.“
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After ‘Friends‘ ended in 2004, the six stayed close. They saw each other often, sometimes in smaller groups, sometimes all together. But the last time they were all in one place was for ‘Friends: The Reunion‘ on HBO Max in 2021. And, as Jennifer later revealed in an interview with Vanity Fair, it became their final memory as a full group.
Aniston said, “We did everything we could when we could. But it almost felt like we’d been mourning Matthew for a long time because his battle with that disease was a really hard one for him to fight. As hard as it was for all of us and for the fans, there’s a part of me that thinks this is better. I’m glad he’s out of that pain.“
Surely, it’s tempting to imagine what a modern-day version of ‘Friends‘ would look like. Older Ross and Rachel, Monica and Chandler as parents, Joey is still chasing dreams. But Jennifer thinks that the world can’t exist without the six of them together.
Even though a sequel will never happen, ‘Friends‘ will forever be the show we turn to when we need comfort, a laugh, or a reminder that life’s better when you have people who care about you, even if they sometimes steal your sandwich. Maybe some things are too special to be repeated!
