Throughout the NBC sitcom Friends, romantic entanglements have been a crucial element in the character development of each core member. While some found their forever “lobsters” after a lot of dilly-dallying and failed marriages, Phoebe Buffay met Mike Hannigan in the concluding stretch, with whom she ultimately tied the knot. However, what might surprise the world is that this picture-perfect fairy tale ending was on the original blueprint of Friends.

Instead, a different story of Phoebe’s romantic ending had already been in the works from the beginning of the series. In fact, the person whose name was on the script for Phoebe’s storybook closure might startle you even more. 

The One Phoebe Buffay Was Supposed to End Up With

If one recalls correctly, unlike Phoebe’s other friends, she had already found the love of her life in David in the very first season. Although their affair was cut short given David’s grant trip to Minsk, their encounter was convincing enough to decode a fantasy finale. And surprisingly, that was also the plan as was revealed by Hank Azaria to The Huffington Post in 2016. Azaria admitted how “the plan always was kind of bring him back”.

Additionally, Azaria also confessed that he was quite oblivious to the fact that David’s flying off to Minsk would be the closure to his character and his run with Phoebe. On addressing how the plan might have changed its course, the actor said that “Paul Rudd is so awesome that they sort of found a groove with him”. While admitting how it “did sting a little bit”, Azaria also commented how David’s fate became “just the grist of that mill” in the meantime. 

One knows that the David-Phoebe plan did not finally sit well with the creators and a change in air was meddled with. Therefore, let’s take a look at who Phoebe actually ended up with.

The One Phoebe Buffay Ends Up With

Very select-few love stories in Friends have bloomed like Phoebe’s last run in the Cupid season. The iconic love story in the talks here is the one about Phoebe Buffay and Mike Hannigan, who was played by Paul Rudd. The story was so convincing that even Hank Azaria shed the bitterness to confess that Mike “was comedically deserving of Phoebe’s love.”. However, what might shock the world is that not just Azaria, but even Rudd felt overwhelmed by his inclusion in the finale.

In 2023, Paul Rudd spoke about this “strange” feeling on The Heart Breakfast with Jamie and Amanda. While recalling how “privileged” he felt being a part of that final season, he also explained, “I just don’t want to sit back here and get in the way”. While his point is to be taken into account keeping in mind, the efforts of the core cast throughout 10 years, it seems that he actually did not get in the way as fans were more than on board with the Phoebe-Mike ending than what a Phoebe-David ending could have sorted.

What do you think of the original plan about Phoebe in Friends? Let us know in the comments below!