‘Euphoria’ Season 3 Is Slated to Arrive Later Than Expected—Here’s Everything We Know

At first, it was presumed that Euphoria season three would return in 2025. Back in May, Francesca Orsi (executive vice president of HBO Programming), teased that the teen drama likely wouldn’t return until 2025. Then, the year was confirmed during an HBO press event in November.

But now, it appears that Euphoria season three might be looking at a later premiere date. (Sorry, Euphoria fans). On March 25, Deadline reported that filming for the upcoming installment has been pushed back because the series creator, Sam Levinson, is still working on the scripts for season three. And if that weren’t enough, the cast has been encouraged to pursue other projects. 

“HBO and Sam Levinson remain committed to making an exceptional third season,” the network revealed in a statement to the outlet. “In the interim, we are allowing our in-demand cast to pursue other opportunities.”

Originally, filming for Euphoria season three was expected to start in the next couple of months. At the moment, there is no official start date for filming or an expected release date for the third season. 

According to Orsi, the decision to renew Euphoria was a no-brainer. “Sam [Levinson], Zendaya and the entire cast and crew of Euphoria have taken season 2 to extraordinary heights, challenging narrative convention and form, while maintaining its heart,” she said in a statement. “We couldn’t be more honored to work with this gifted, wildly talented team or more excited to continue our journey with them into season 3.”

Euphoria tells the story of a troubled teenager named Rue, who’s struggling to balance her social life and high school. HBO’s official synopsis reads, “Amidst the intertwining lives in the town of East Highland, 17-year-old Rue must find hope while balancing the pressures of love, loss and addiction.”

Creator Levinson actually modeled the show after his own struggles with addiction. In recalling a meeting he had with HBO’s Orsi, Levinson said, “We just had a conversation about just life and her life and my life and various struggles that, you know, we've been through and things and she said, ‘Great, you know, well go and write that.’ And I said, ‘What?’ And she goes, ‘Everything we just talked about.’”

Several original cast members are expected to reprise their roles, including:

• Zendaya as Rue
• Hunter Schafer as Jules
• Sydney Sweeney as Cassie
• Alexa Demie as Maddy
• Maude Apatow as Lexi
• Jacob Elordi as Nate
• Eric Dane as Cal
• Nika King as Leslie
• Algee Smith as Chris
• Javon Walton as Ashtray
• Dominic Fike as Elliot
• Storm Reid as Gia
• Austin Abrams as Ethan

However, one notable star will not be returning for the third season: Barbie Ferreira (Kat). Ferreira announced that she was leaving the series in August 2022, saying, “After four years of getting to embody the most special and enigmatic character Kat, I’m having to say a very teary-eyed goodbye. I hope many of you could see yourself in her like I did and that she brought you joy to see her journey into the character she is today. I put all my care and love into her and I hope you guys could feel it. Love you Katherine Hernandez.”

A year later, following rumors that Ferreira and Levinson experienced conflicts on set, the actress told Complex, “I just felt like, maybe it’s like I overstayed my welcome a little bit? So for me, I actually felt good to be like, ‘Okay, I get to not worry about this, and we both don’t get too worried about this,’ because it’s exhausting.”

Tragically, another star who will not be returning is Angus Cloud, who portrayed Fezco. The Oakland native passed away in July 2023, at the age of 25.

His life was commemorated on the official HBO and Euphoria Instagram accounts, with a message that read: “We are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of Angus Cloud. He was immensely talented and a beloved part of the HBO and Euphoria family. We extend our deepest condolences to his friends and family during this difficult time.”