Rumors have abounded since Friends ended its successful ten year run in 2004 that the cast would make a movie. Every so often one of the cast members would admit they’ve been talking about it, but there was always one holdout, who no one would ever name. Sometimes they’d claim it was one of the guys, though it was often rumored to be Jennifer Aniston.

Supposedly they’re really going to make the film now, inspired by the success (and I’m guessing the money) of the recent Sex & the City film.

The highly anticipated film production of TV series Friends has finally been given the go-ahead, MailOnline has learned. The actors have been inspired by the recent success of Sex And The City, which recently hit cinemas worldwide. A source said: ‘Jennifer, Courteney and the rest of the cast are keen to reprise their roles, under the right circumstances.

‘The box office success of Sex And The City has really got their wheels spinning about how a Friends film could be just as big, if done right. Timing and the script are really important, but now that Courteney and Jen both have production companies, they can potentially get very involved in those decisions.’

While Cox, 44, LeBlanc, 40, Perry, 39, Kudrow, 45 and Schwimmer, 41, were believed to be keen on the reunion, Aniston, 39, is believed to have dragged her heels. Now, however, she is keen to move ahead with the project, which will be produced by Warner Bros. ‘She says she and Courteney have already talked this summer about what they want out of a Friends movie, and if deals can be made with them, everything else can fall into place rather quickly.

[From the Daily Mail]

It sounds like things are as close to happening as they’ve ever been. But when the same rumor has been floating around for four years, it’s hard to tell when/if it’s actually become legitimate. Even though Jennifer Aniston is probably the biggest star from the show, I think all of them could benefit from a successful film. The Daily Mail pointed out that Aniston has had a few okay movies, but she’s still much better known for her personal life than her great movie career. And I’m pretty sure that at this point, Matt LeBlanc should take whatever he can get.

It seemed like there was a bit of a Friends backlash right after the series finale. Suddenly everyone was claiming they never found it funny. Television comedies have really moved in a different direction since then. There are very few traditional sitcoms left on the air – and almost none of them are filmed in front of a live audience anymore. It’ll be interesting to see if people still find the show’s brand of humor funny. Something tells me that no matter what, it won’t compare to the financial success of the Sex & the City film.

Update by Celebitchy: A representative for Warner Brothers has denied that there’s a Friends movie in the works, saying “(There’s) no truth in the story.” Courteney Cox and Matthew Perry’s spokespeople have also denied that there’s a Friends movie being planned. [Details From SFGate]

Matt LeBlanc’s former manager is suing for commissions due, thought to be around $1 million.

In a lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Camille Cerio says she was LeBlanc’s manager from April 1994 until the end of 1995, and during that time signed a contract with him that entitled her to commissions on income he earned from “Friends” and any derivatives of the show, such as “Joey.”

According to the lawsuit, LeBlanc paid her those commissions until 2000, but has not paid her anything since then. Cerio said LeBlanc, as recently as last year, orally promised to give her an accounting of all money owed since the last payment in 2000, and to pay all the money owed. However, she said, no further money has been forthcoming.

Variety

So will Matt LeBlanc open up his bank statements and share his personal wealth with his manager, and through the courts the rest of the world.

A representative for the former Friend doesn’t think so, telling TMZ “In a land of meritless lawsuits, this is the king of all cases without merit.”

I’m astounded that someone who hasn’t been involved in someone’s career for over ten years can still claim their earnings. I understand that in negotiating Matt’s employment with Friends, Camille can claim for earnings from that show, but surely Joey must have been negotitaed by Matt’s new management.

Matt LeBlanc’s spin-off show from Friends, Joey, ended last year. No further projects have been announced.

Note by Celebitchy: I looked for like 1/2 an hour for a picture of Joey’s agent from Friends, Estelle, played by June Gable. I couldn’t find a screencap from Friends or any decent pictures of her other than those tiny ones in the header, but I was reminded of that ornery manager when I read this story. Joey’s agent Estelle died near the end of Friends, but the actress who played her, June Gable, is still alive and well at just 62.

The NY Post’s Cindy Adams reports that a long-rumored “Friends” reunion is now in the works, and that holdout Jennifer Aniston finally agreed to it:

A while ago it was rumored that Lisa Kudrow said that “one of the guys” was holding up the reunion after Kathleen Turner let it slip that she was approached to reprise her role as Chandler’s mom, but then Kudrow denied that a reunion was in the works.

Now that Cindy Adams has reported it, it’s probably true, and I can’t wait! I love that show, although it’s hard to watch now that I have such a poor opinion of Aniston. She must have realized how much she owes to “Friends” and maybe she’ll be grateful to the show for making her famous.

Matt LeBlanc and his wife, Melissa McNight, have split up after three years of marriage. LeBlanc filed divorce papers in LA this week, and LeBlanc’s reps confirmed the news.

The couple has a daughter, Marina, 2, who is said to have a neurological disorder that causes her to suffer from seizures. LeBlanc has two stepchildren from a previous marriage.

LeBlanc’s sitcom, Joey, has not been officially cancelled, but is expected to be let go by NBC as it has suffered from poor ratings.