Gabrielle Union is hosting a ‘Friends’ table read featuring an all-Black cast.
The ‘Bring It On’ actress will be joined by Sterling K. Brown, Ryan Michelle Bathe, Uzo Aduba, Aisha Hinds, Kendrick Sampson and Jeremy Pope in the Zoom event on Tuesday (22.09.20), which is being staged to promote the non-profit organisation When We All Vote.
On/off couple Ross Geller and Rachel Green – who were played in the sitcom by David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston – will be portrayed by ‘This Is Us’ star Sterling and his real-life wife Ryan, while Uzo will take on Lisa Kudrow’s role of Phoebe Buffay.
Aisha will play Monica Geller, who was originally played by Courteney Cox, while Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry’s roles of Joey Tribiani and Chandler Bing will be taken by Kendrick and Jeremy respectively.
READ: Gabrielle Union Doesn’t Regret Speaking Up About Her Experiences At AGT
Salli Richardson-Whitfield will direct the event, which is part of Zoom’s Zoom Where It Happens series.
Zoom previously hosted an all-Black cast reading of ‘The Golden Girls’, which was hosted by Regina King and starred Alfre Woodard, Tracee Ellis Ross, Sanaa Lathan, and Regina King.
The original ‘Friends’ cast had been set to reunite for an HBO Max special but it has been delayed numerous times due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
The special was originally set to film in May but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and although they’re now allowed to be back on set after taking COVID-secure precautions, live audiences are not permitted, and show co-creator Marta Kauffman doesn’t think the special should be filmed without one.
READ: ‘Friends’ Special To Film In August
