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Starting July 1st, the eagerly awaited streaming platform Max will become the new home for the beloved series Friends, previously available on Netflix, as announced by Warner Bros. Discovery.
Max, a streaming platform launching in France on June 11, will feature the iconic series Friends from July 1st, transitioning from Netflix, according to an announcement by the American group Warner Bros. Discovery. The ten-season sitcom, which concluded 20 years ago but continues to enjoy unwavering popularity, is set to leave Netflix’s catalog after June 30.
The resurgence in the popularity of Friends has been notably influenced by the recent passing of Matthew Perry, who famously portrayed Chandler Bing on the show. Fans worldwide have revisited the series, seeking to relive the iconic moments and heartfelt humor that Matthew Perry brought to his character. His untimely death has led to a renewed appreciation of his work and the indelible mark he left on one of television’s most cherished sitcoms. This nostalgic revival not only honors Matthew Perry’s legacy but also underscores the enduring connection that Friends continues to foster among audiences old and new.
After a two-year delay, its successor, Max, a merger of HBO Max and Discovery+, will offer French subscribers “18,500 hours of non-sport content”, including prestigious HBO series such as The Last of Us, The Sopranos, etc., and the Harry Potter franchise, stated Clément Schwebig, the president of Warner Bros Discovery Western Europe and Africa, during a presentation in Paris.
Max will also showcase local productions, including a new series adaptation of Les Liaisons Dangereuses titled Merteuil, featuring Vincent Lacoste, Anamaria Vartolomei, Diane Kruger, and Lucas Bravo, and directed by Jessica Palud. Additionally, the lineup includes a documentary mini-series, Now or Never: FC Montfermeil, focusing on young players from the titular amateur football club.
These offerings complement other previously announced productions: A Devoted Friend starring Laure Calamy, a mini-series based on the true story of a fake Bataclan victim, Living with Our Dead, an adaptation of a book by Rabbi Delphine Horvilleur featuring Elsa Guedj, Eric Elmosnino, Manu Payet, and Noémie Lvovsky, and Malditos, a thriller about a gypsy clan fighting for survival, starring Céline Sallette.
In the meantime, subscribers can look forward to the June 17 premiere of House of the Dragon Season 2, a spin-off of the globally successful Game of Thrones series. Additionally, regardless of the subscription plan, viewers will have full access to the entire Olympic Games, from July 26 until August 11, broadcast live.
With AFP
