Friends: The Next Generation - The Sequel Pilot & Cast Too Wild To Be Real
"Friends" fans shouldn't expect any reboots or revivals down the line. However, that doesn't mean there can't be spin-off shows set in the same universe. In fact, some fans have already devised an idea for "Friends: The Next Generation," which revolves around the kids of the iconic sitcom's characters, though the cast is way too big for it to become a reality.
According to the unmade show's Wiki, the fan-imagined project would star Jennifer Lawrence as Emma Geller-Green, Amanda Seyfried as Erica Bing, Chord Overstreet as Jack Bing, Sophie Austin as Sophie Hannigan, Connor Jessup as Mike Hannigan Jr., and Drew Roy as Joey Tribbiani Jr. The show would also see "Riverdale" star Cole Sprouse reprise his role of Ben Geller, while Jean-Luc Bilodeau, Deborah Ann Woll, and Lucy Hale would portray Frank Buffay Jr. Jr., Leslie Buffay, and Chandler Buffay, respectively. The original "Friends" cast would also be involved, wherever possible.
Kristen Davis rounds out the cast as Joey Tribbiani's (Matt LeBlanc) old flame, Erin. "Friends" fans will remember that she broke it off with Joey after a couple of dates in Season 7's "The One with Ross' Library Book" episode, giving him a taste of his own medicine. However, the spin-off imagines they're now married, which would mean that the relationship between Joey and Alex Garrett (Andrea Anders) doesn't last following the events of NBC's "Joey." Still, some of the unproduced fan series' other romantic ideas are more shocking than Joey's love life.
Friends: The Next Generation is wonderfully weird
The "Friends: The Next Generation" pilot episode, "The One with All the Growing Up," sees the main players throw a graduation party. It opens with Emma telling her parents that she hopes Ben attends the festivities because he's a hottie, and they have to remind her that he's her half-brother. Of course, that probably isn't weirder than the time her dad, Ross (David Schwimmer), tried to make out with his cousin, Cassie (Denise Richards), in "The One with Ross and Monica's Cousin."
Elsewhere, Sophie and Mike Jr. return from a trip to England and complain that it was boring. This sets up jokes about British people, but Chandler (the late Matthew Perry) takes it too far, and he's subsequently criticized for being offensive. Later, Emma hits on her half-sibling at the party only to be rejected, though sparks appear to fly between Erica and Frank Jr. Jr. as the pilot ends with them dancing and laughing together. It's unknown if Emma is able to move on and find someone else.
Little is known about the fanfic show's other episodes other than the second, "The One with the Substance," which centers around Sophie discovering a mysterious substance in a hospital. Meanwhile, "The One With The Driving Lesson" doesn't feature a plot synopsis, but the title is self-explanatory. While it's pretty much impossible that these will ever be filmed, perhaps "Friends" fans will one day be able to read the scripts for these episodes and more.