The Perfect ‘Friends’ Cast if the Sitcom Were Made in 2026

Fancasting is a popular pastime. Don’t you love to look at classic shows, wonder what the characters might look like if the show were made today, then picture current celebrities in the key and supporting roles? Friends is the perfect show to do this with. The iconic sitcom features a mixed bag of personalities. It’s famously known for lacking diversity, and you can’t help but wonder who might play each of the characters in a modern-day version.

The way the characters look might change, but with the right actors playing them, their essence would remain. Consider that while most of the cast was in their mid-to-late 20s and early 30s when the series started, celebrities today tend to look younger than ever. That means casting a 35-to-40-year-old wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility. When you consider who’s hot right now, a few names stand out as actors who could nail these characters in a modern-day dream casting scenario.

1

Rachel Green: Sydney Sweeney

Image via HBO

Sydney Sweeney is this generation’s “it” girl — a status that Jennifer Aniston, who played Rachel Green, understood all too well at the height of Friends‘ success. Sweeney has proven herself capable of handling both drama and comedy in shows like Euphoria. Though that HBO series has some of the heaviest TV episodes of the last 20 years, there are also lighter moments. Sweeney’s whiny and at times insufferable character Cassie sometimes delivers laughs, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Sweeney also starred in the romantic comedy Anyone But You, where she showed off more of her comedy talents.

She has the same distinct look Aniston does — a beauty that stands out from others. We could totally see whoever plays Ross having pined for her since they were in high school. And Sweeney would be believable as the runaway bride who works as a waitress in a coffee shop until pursuing a career in fashion.

Honorable mentions: Jenna Ortega (her comedic timing is brilliant); Zendaya (she’s a consummate pro who can tackle any role).

2

Ross Geller: Jesse Eisenberg

Image via Lionsgate

Fans either loved or hated Ross, played by David Schwimmer, who came across as annoying and complaining at times. But deep down, he was a good guy who not everyone understood. He lacked confidence in himself and couldn’t seem to figure out his love life until the bitter end of the show.

Jesse Eisenberg is a perfect actor to play him. He’s known for playing anxious characters, which fits right into the Ross wheelhouse. His characters are often intelligent, but also socially awkward like Ross. From portraying Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network to the illusionist in Now You See Me, one of those perfect action movies anyone can enjoy, his resume speaks for itself. While he’s already in his 40s, Eisenberg still has a boyish face, so he could pull off early 30s.

Honorable mentions: Jay Baruchel (he plays the awkwardly confident nerd so well); Tyler James Williams (his uptight and awkward character in Abbott Elementary proves he has what it takes).

3

Chandler Bing: Daniel Radcliffe

Image via Scott Gries/NBC

It would take a huge actor to tackle the role of Chandler Bing, and Daniel Radcliffe could be a good fit. While he’s best known for playing Harry Potter in that massive franchise, it’s easy to forget that he also portrayed “Weird Al” Yankovic in the musical parody Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. He’s also currently killing it in the sitcom The Rise and Fall of Reggie Dinkins. He knows how to command a screen like the late Matthew Perry does, and he has demonstrated his skill for comedic timing as well.

Chandler often used sarcasm and self-deprecation to hide his insecurities, and we could totally see Radcliffe doing the same. He isn’t afraid to be silly either, playing everything from a flatulent dead body in Swiss Army Man to several humorous characters in Miracle Workers. Though older than Perry was when he started on Friends, Radcliffe forever has that youthful look.

Honorable mentions: Skylar Astin (he has a similar look and a reputation for playing sweet and likable characters); Joe Keery (the flowing hair and talent for sarcasm in Stranger Things make him a viable candidate).

4

Monica Geller: Anya Taylor-Joy

Image via Netflix

Anya Taylor-Joy is one of the most sought-after young actors of this generation. Rising to fame in The Queen’s Gambit, one of the greatest miniseries masterpieces of the 21^st century, then the movie The Menu, and now most recently starring in the Apple TV series Lucky, she has taken on diverse characters. While many have a certain sex appeal, Monica, originally played by Courteney Cox, is more upright. But Taylor-Joy is the type of actor you know could handle any type of character that’s thrown at her.

This version of Monica might have to change slightly, but we could see it working. She could be a cute pairing with Radcliffe, Astin, or Keery, and I could see Eisenberg as her annoying older brother. It would be a role out of Taylor-Joy’s usual darker, more intense shows and movies, but she could be convincing as the uptight, neat-freak, hard-working chef.

Honorable mentions: Hailee Steinfeld (she has the same adorably magnetic quality); Millie Bobby Brown (she has a sweet innocence about her like Monica); Ayo Edebiri (she’d taps into Monica’s sarcastic side); Chase Infiniti (she has the same classic beauty and tremendous acting talent); Maude Apatow (she’s an up-and-comer whose Euphoria character you could imagine as being a younger Monica).

5

Joey Tribbiani: Dave Franco

Image: Apple TV

Matt LeBlanc beautifully portrayed the handsome but goofy and not very academically intelligent friend. This is a character type Dave Franco knows all too well and could play to a T. He leaned into the comedy angle in movies like Superbad and the Now You See Me films, as well as in shows like The Afterparty and The Studio, the latter of which he played an embellished version of himself.

While Franco is already 40, his boyish face would fit with a more mature version of the character. He could easily replicate Joey’s doe-eyed look, womanizing ways, and adorably naïve personality.

Honorable mentions: Zac Efron (he fits the hunky persona and knows comedy); Timothée Chalamet (he’s a versatile young actor who can take on any role); Robbie Amell (he’s dabbled in comedy with Upload, showing he can handle goofy, macho roles).

6

Phoebe Buffay: Haley Lu Richardson

Image via HBO

It’s tough to imagine anyone but Lisa Kudrow embodying Phoebe. But when considering the younger generation of actors, Haley Lu Richardson is easy to picture in a boho outfit, playing her guitar in the coffee shop, singing about her smelly cat, and playing up the eccentric, kooky personality.

Richardson has shown her range in roles like The White Lotus, one of the most perfect HBO shows of the last 15 years, where she played a young assistant trying to find herself. She more recently appeared in the Peacock series Ponies as a confident and rebellious wife of a CIA agent in the ’70s. There’s no doubt she’d tackle Phoebe with a modern 21st-century twist.

Honorable mentions: Elle Fanning (she’s one of the most versatile young actors of this generation); Sadie Sink (the sarcastic slant of Max in Stranger Things would be perfect for the character); Hunter Schafer (her nuanced performance in Euphoria included some comedy as well); Emma Myers (her upbeat character in Wednesday has hints of Phoebe).

7

Gunther: Suraj Sharma

Image via Hulu

The late James Michael Tyler quietly played Gunther, the manager of Central Perk who not-so-secretly pined for Rachel. He quietly puts up with the antics of the group and keeps their favorite couch perpetually reserved so it’s always available to them when they want it. For a time, he was Rachel’s boss when she worked there as a waitress.

Suraj Sharma feels like a good actor for this role, perhaps because of his role as Sid in the short-lived How I Met Your Mother spin-off, How I Met Your Father. On that show, he’s a member of the core group who happens to own a bar. Even though he’s part of the friend group, they often visit the bar while he’s working. Beyond that, he could lend more personality to the role, since Tyler was mostly a background character with a few lines here and there. Sharma has great comedic timing, so even with a single line, he’d command attention and garner laughs.

Honorable mention: Reba McEntire (she would bring loads more comedy to the role with some good one-liners).

8

Jacob Elordi: Richard Burke

Image via HBO

For some time, Monica dated the handsome Richard, played by the handsome Tom Selleck. He was tall, suave, wealthy, and much older. Unsurprisingly, Chandler was threatened by Richard when he felt like the old beau might return to Monica’s life. In this generation, I could easily see Jacob Elordi playing Richard. He’s tall and handsome as well, and while young, there’s no reason Richard couldn’t be switched to a young, successful businessman instead of an older one.

Given the shift to female empowerment nowadays, it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary to have Monica dating a younger man and swapping the story angle. Elordi, for his part, knows how to play the prince charming type, having done so in projects like The Kissing Booth and Wuthering Heights.

Honorable mentions: Liam Hemsworth (has the same classic handsome look); Robert Pattinson (his characters often have an air of mystery about them); Glen Powell (his smile lights a room, and he’d easily fit as the ex that makes Chandler jealous).

9

Isabela Merced: Janice Hosenstein

Image via Max

Aside from Monica, Chandler had one other major girlfriend through the show’s run. Janice (Maggie Wheeler) is best known for her distinct accent, loud personality, bold clothing choices, and obnoxious cries of, “Oh my god!” Isabela Merced is an up-and-coming young actor who is best known for her role in The Last of Us. But her experience from Nickelodeon shows, as well as more serious ones like in Alien: Romulus, suggest this could be a fun role to show her comedic side, too.

Janice appears in multiple seasons of Friends, coming back into Chandler’s life more than once. Sometimes, the group just runs into her in various scenarios. Merced proved in Season 2 of The Last of Us that she could dominate scenes. That’s something Wheeler did whenever the camera was on her as Janice, oozing main character energy even though she wasn’t one.

Honorable mentions: Joey King (her range is tremendous, and though she mostly does serious roles, she’d ace this one); Melissa Rauch (she perfected the nasally, squeaky voice for Bernadette on The Big Bang Theory).

10

Paul Rudd: Mike Hannigan

Image via Lionsgate

I mean, could anyone else possibly play Mike, Phoebe’s long-term boyfriend and eventual husband, other than Paul Rudd himself? Sure, decades have passed since he last played the role, but as many joke, Rudd doesn’t seem to age. He still looks like he did back then, so it would be hilarious to have Rudd return in this same role.

The age difference might be a little unsettling, depending on who’s playing Phoebe, but would it really be any different than when Selleck played the older Richard dating Monica? Rudd has such a boyish charm that he’d slink so easily back into the role that everyone would forget he’s pushing 60 and totally believe that Phoebe has fallen head over heels for the weirdly wonderful pianist and former lawyer.