Fans Won't See Paul Rudd In The 'Friends' Reunion Special; Here's Why

"Friends" fans were understandably disappointed when the producers released the cameos list for the much-anticipated reunion episode. Despite having played a major role in the show for two seasons, fan favorite Paul Rudd will not appear in the one-off special.

The "Friends Reunion," which airs on HBO Max on May 27, will include guest stars Justin Bieber, BTS, Lady Gaga, and some of the show's actors, including Tom Selleck and James Michael Tyler. Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry will all be in attendance.

Then why isn't Rudd going to be there? As fans began to voice their dissatisfaction with his absence, many began to question how he was handled on stage, bringing up the fact that the actor has had less-than-flattering things to say about his experience.

Nobody knows if the producers or others invited Rudd to the special. Still, he has previously stated that he did not enjoy his time on "Friends." During a Variety "Actors on Actors" segment in 2020, the Ant-Man actor told Chris Evans that he felt "like a prop" when acting on the show. He was quick to add that he had a fascinating feeling to be a part of something that profoundly affected pop culture.

Although the show had already formed its cliques and was much larger than Mike Hannigan's character, it doesn't seem that Paul Rudd was unhappy with his experience.

Screen Rant said Rudd was already friends with Jennifer Aniston before joining the cast of "Friends," which made it easier for him to fit in. While he may have felt left out as a guest star at times, the suggestion that he was mistreated was simply not true. Another theory is that Rudd "despising" his experience seems to have been exaggerated by fans and the media over time.

Fans have to see if Rudd or any of the other "Friends" actors find out why the Marvel star couldn't attend the reunion: whether people behind the American sitcom did not invite him, had scheduling conflicts, or anything else.