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Fans of Euphoria can finally breathe a sigh of relief—HBO has confirmed that production for the much-anticipated third season is set to begin in January 2025. After years of speculation, indefinite delays, and concerns from the show’s devoted fanbase, HBO assured Variety in June 2024 that all principal cast members, including Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, and Jacob Elordi, will return to reprise their roles.
The future of Euphoria had been in question since its explosive second season, which concluded in early 2022. Though the show was quickly renewed for a third season, the following years were marred by delays. Initially, the Hollywood strikes, which caused industry-wide shutdowns, were blamed for the hold-up. However, even after the strikes were resolved, the cast and crew were left waiting as scripts were reportedly still in flux.
According to an exclusive Variety report, behind-the-scenes disagreements played a significant role in the delays. Showrunner Sam Levinson’s original vision for season 3 was said to centre on Nate (Jacob Elordi) and Cassie (Sydney Sweeney), which allegedly did not sit well with star Zendaya. Further complicating matters was the tragic death of Angus Cloud, who played Fezco, a pivotal character in Levinson’s early drafts for the season.
Among the alternate storylines that were reportedly scrapped included one where Rue (Zendaya) becomes a private detective and another in which a sober Rue serves as a pregnancy surrogate. As the creative team worked through rewrites, the future of the series became increasingly uncertain.
Still, HBO is optimistic about a 2025 release, even though the entertainment industry remains sceptical. Cast members have shared their own frustrations and hopes for the upcoming season.
Zendaya
Zendaya, who not only stars as Rue but also serves as an executive producer, has been vocal about the show’s time jump, hinting at a shift away from high school drama. “It’s important because there’s only so much high school drama you can deal with,” she told Entertainment Weekly. “I’ll be interested to see what happens, too,” she added, emphasizing that the show’s future depends heavily on the rewrites.
Jacob Elordi
Jacob Elordi, who plays Nate Jacobs, expressed his uncertainty on The Tonight Show back in January 2024, quipping that if the delays continued, the team would have to “Benjamin Button” him to maintain his youthful appearance. Despite his lighthearted remarks, Elordi has been a vocal supporter of a time jump to refresh the characters’ arcs.
Sydney Sweeney
Sydney Sweeney (Cassie Howard) remained optimistic, hinting at filming beginning soon during a March 2024 interview with MTV. She later revealed in an interview with Who What Wear that she welcomed the delay, as it allowed room for character growth. “I actually like it because there’s so much room for growth for both me as a person and also Cassie as a character,” she said.
Other key cast members, including Hunter Schafer (Jules), Storm Reid (Gia), and Colman Domingo (Ali), have all expressed enthusiasm about returning, despite the challenges the production has faced. Domingo, in particular, spoke to Vanity Fair about the multiple rewrites, especially in light of Angus Cloud’s passing, and the need to re-examine the show’s direction.
Although the road to Euphoria season 3 has been fraught with challenges, the confirmation of a January 2025 start to filming is a glimmer of hope for fans. While the exact direction of the show remains unclear, audiences are eager to see how their favourite characters evolve in the series’ next chapter.