As HBO and its creator Sam Levinson engage in a debate over the fate of their characters in the upcoming third season of "Euphoria," which promises a significant leap in time, the ensemble cast, increasingly in demand and including stars like Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, and Jacob Elordi, has been granted permission to explore other projects.
When "Euphoria" finally returns for its eagerly awaited third season, Rue and her friends will no longer be confined to the halls of high school. Sources close to the show reveal to The Hollywood Reporter that multiple factors have influenced HBO's decision to postpone production on the drama's third installment, starring Zendaya. Notably, there have been ongoing discussions between the network and creator Sam Levinson regarding the setting of the action once the characters graduate from high school.
Initially slated to commence filming in the coming months, production has been temporarily halted as the creative team and network work together to chart out the new world for the show. Sources privy to the series reveal that Levinson's plan involves introducing a significant time jump when the third season debuts—ideally in 2025, though that timeline is no longer guaranteed.
Also up in the air is the number of episodes that will comprise season three, as Levinson and HBO continue to negotiate the arcs for Rue (Zendaya), Nate (Jacob Elordi), Jules (Hunter Schafer), and Cassie (Sydney Sweeney).
On Monday, HBO issued a statement confirming that it was granting its star-studded cast the freedom to "pursue other opportunities" while remaining committed to delivering an exceptional third season. The network declined to comment further beyond its initial statement.
The show has been instrumental in launching the successful film careers of Zendaya (Dune), Sweeney (Anyone but You), and Elordi (Saltburn). Despite their busy schedules, the cast remains committed to "Euphoria," which means that if any cast member lines up a new film or TV project, they may have to pause it whenever the cameras are ready to roll for "Euphoria," or film both projects concurrently. The production team will also have to work around their schedules, which will be another factor determining when filming can resume.
Given the high-profile cast's growing popularity and eagerness to work, sources indicate that HBO felt it was unfair to prevent them from taking on interim roles. High school-set shows—like "Glee," "Beverly Hills 90210," and "Saved by the Bell"—have historically struggled to maintain their popularity as the narratives move beyond graduation, adding a unique challenge to the upcoming season of this hit series.
Season two of Euphoria, which premiered in early 2022, painted a vivid picture of its characters navigating the treacherous waters of junior and senior high school life. However, the season finale left graduation on the back burner, instead offering a chaotic theatrical performance and a harrowing shootout that resulted in the untimely departures of Javon "Wanna" Walton's Ash and the arrest of the late Angus Cloud's Fez. Barbie Ferreira (Kat) revealed in April that she and Levinson had mutually decided her character would not return, echoing her sentiment that "there was no place for [her character] to go."
Known for his meticulous writing process, Levinson is renowned for his thorough approach to storytelling. In a late February interview with GQ, Emmy-winning guest star Colman Domingo (Rustin) attempted to shed light on the delay for season three, describing Levinson as someone who "writes and rewrites and writes and rewrites again." Domingo further elaborated that the creator was deeply interested in exploring the existential questions of "who we are right now, our souls," seeking to unpack these complexities in the upcoming season.
Levinson's creative journey was further complicated by his involvement in HBO's fateful music drama The Idol. The series, announced in June 2021, underwent a significant creative overhaul a year later before finally airing as a truncated five-episode run in summer 2023. Tragically, HBO pulled the plug on the show in August 2023. Moreover, the writers' strike in 2023 further hamstrung Levinson's efforts, contributing significantly to the delay in the release of season three.
