Can you believe it? The role of Sandy on Friends was originally meant for none other than Tom Hanks! But thanks to a scheduling hiccup, Freddie Prinze Jr., known for his starring role in She’s All That, stepped in and made the part his own. Let’s dive into how this unexpected twist of fate unfolded and what Freddie had to say about it.

Freddie Prinze Jr.'s Last-Minute Casting on Friends

Freddie Prinze Jr. recently opened up to Entertainment Weekly about his whirlwind experience joining the beloved sitcom for its 200th episode, titled "The One With the Male Nanny." "I wasn't even supposed to be Sandy," Freddie revealed. "That role was initially offered to Tom Hanks, but he couldn't make it back from filming in time." With such short notice, the show needed a quick replacement, and Freddie was more than happy to step in.

At just 43 years old, Freddie recalls the moment he got the call. "My agent called me out of the blue and said, 'Do you want to be on Friends?' I said, 'Yeah, doing an episode of Friends would be awesome.' He then added, 'Yeah, it shoots tomorrow,' and I was like, 'What?!' He said, 'Yes, tomorrow, so I'll send you the script.'" Can you imagine preparing for a role on one of the biggest shows at the time with less than 24 hours to spare?

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Freddie's Quick Prep and Stellar Performance

Freddie had to hit the ground running, learning his lines in under a day. Despite the tight timeline, his performance was nothing short of impressive. Fans who watched that episode can attest to how well he held his own alongside the iconic cast. Not only did Freddie nail his part, but he also received some sage advice from Jennifer Aniston's on-screen love interest, David Schwimmer.

David, who's now 53, was incredibly supportive. Freddie fondly remembers him saying, "You're going to love this, man. It's like a little two-act play, and the crowd is so engaged and into it. You'll have a ton of fun, don't worry about a thing." David's encouragement helped Freddie feel more at ease, allowing him to deliver a memorable performance.

Will Freddie Return for a Friends Reunion?

Even with his standout role as Sandy, Freddie isn't sure if he'll be invited back for a Friends reunion—if one ever happens. When asked about it, he joked, "I have no idea if we'll see Sandy in the reunion; you'd have to ask them that. If they got someone like Paul Rudd to come back in his role so we can see what he's been up to since then, I think that would probably be more exciting." While we don’t know what the episode would have been like with Tom Hanks in the role, it’s safe to say Freddie brought his own charm to the character.