euphoria

Which ‘Euphoria’ Characters Are — and Aren’t — Returning for Season 3

The third season of Euphoria has officially started filming after a major delay — but not every fan favorite is returning for more episodes of the show.

Euphoria, which premiered in 2019, follows troubled high school student Rue (Zendaya) as she struggles to remain sober after rehab. The ensemble cast initially included Hunter Schafer, Alexa Demie, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, Maude Apatow, Colman Domingo and more.

The hit HBO series was quickly renewed for a second season after its premiere, but it took nearly three years for the episodes to air, with the network ordering two individual specials about the aftermath of Rue and Jules’ (Schafer) breakup in the meantime.

Season 3 was originally set to air on HBO in 2025 before facing several obstacles, including creator Sam Levinson’s commitment to his short-lived series The Idol. The dual WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which took place in late 2023, prolonged the delay.

“We’ve been through strikes before, you know, they increase the cost,” HBO CEO Casey Bloys said in November 2023 about production costs potentially increasing as a result. “I don’t see a scenario where I go, ‘Well, I was going to make another tentpole show, but now I’m not going to because we have to pay X amount more.’ I don’t think it works like that.”

Production was ultimately delayed again without an official start date. “HBO and [creator] Sam Levinson remain committed to making an exceptional third season,” a spokesperson for the network told Us Weekly in March. “In the interim, we are allowing our in-demand cast to pursue other opportunities.”

It has since been confirmed that Euphoria started production in early 2025. “We’ve talked about it, I don’t think anything is over until it’s over, but it’s been discussed that this is the end,” HBO’s head of drama Francesca Orsi shared in February 2025. “I think you will be very satisfied with this season, and how we bring each of the characters’ whole narrative.”

Several crucial cast members have confirmed their exits though. Keep scrolling to see which Euphoria characters are returning for season 3 — and which aren’t:

Before production began, Zendaya clarified that her busy schedule had nothing to do with the wait. “I will say, I have been off for a couple years,” she told Vanity Fair in November 2024 when asked about the show’s future. “[Euphoria is] not delayed because of [me] … I’ve been open, just waiting.”

The actress said she was “waiting” for updates on the hit HBO series, adding, “I’m actually going to start filming a project soon before Euphoria, and I’m like, ‘Man, I’m rusty. I haven’t been on a set in, like, two years almost.’ I’m a little bit terrified. I’m like, ‘Can I even do this anymore?’ I don’t know.”

She concluded: “[Euphoria] is slated for January [2025], I believe. I haven’t read anything yet, but I’m excited to see what everyone has been working on, and what the future looks like for Euphoria.”

Schafer mentioned on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast in August 2024 that she has “no f—ing idea what’s going on” with season 3.

“You can ask literally all of the cast. The real tea is that a lot has happened,” Schafer continued while addressing former costar Angus Cloud’s death. “I think everyone feels a certain sense of anticipation for if we are supposed to do season 3.”

She continued: “Obviously, I’m still coming to terms about what’s happened and losing people that we really loved and were a part of this family and everything. If we do go back, that’s going to be tough.”

Sweeney has made it clear that her schedule has been cleared to return to the show, telling Josh Horowitz in a March 2024 interview, “I go into Euphoria. Maybe [I have seen some scripts already]. I don’t know.”

Demie is expected to return as Maddy after playing the character in the first two seasons of Euphoria.

“After four years of getting to embody the most special and enigmatic character Kat, I’m having to say a very teary-eyed goodbye,” Barbie Ferreira wrote via her Instagram Story in August 2022. “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.”

In July 2023, Cloud died at age 25 following an accidental overdose. Season 3 of Euphoria is expected to address the fate of his character, Fezco.

Apatow hasn’t discussed the extensive wait for more episodes of Euphoria, but she is expected to reprise the role of Lexi in season 3.

“I hope [we begin filming] soon, or they’re going to have to Benjamin Button me or something. I’m going to have a bad back walking down the hallway, you know?” Elodri joked on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in January 2024 before pitching a time jump. “I’m assuming that we’ll have to go forward, otherwise it’s going to seem a weird bit.”

What would Euphoria be without Domingo’s character, Ali? Luckily none of Us will find out because Domingo has confirmed he is continuing with the show.

“I will go back to my show Euphoria [soon],” he told The Hollywood Reporter in January 2025. “I haven’t read [the script], but [creator Sam Levinson] told me some of it, and it’s going to be groundbreaking.”

After Dominic Fike joined the show, he started dating Schafer, but the costars ultimately called it quits while fans waited for season 3. It seems unlikelyFike will reprise the polarizing role of Elliot.

“I don’t really talk to them anymore,” he told Variety in 2024 while referring to the team involved with Euphoria. “That be dope, though, [to return, but] who knows? I’ve got stuff to do.”

After rising to stardom for playing Ashtray on Euphoria, Javon “Wanna” Walton made the transition to boxing. Walton exclusively told Us Weekly in July 2024 he had “no damn clue” about the future of Euphoria — or his character — after making the career change.

“Boxing is where my mind is at. I’m trying to live out my legacy in boxing,” he explained. “I’ve made an impact in the acting world — and I will continue to do so — but the focus right now is doing what I did in acting and applying that to boxing. It is about showing people what I’m made of while doing my thing in the ring.”

Similar to his onscreen son — played by Elordi — Eric Dane has expressed plans to return.

“I’m optimistic that it’s gonna come back,” Dane shared during a June 2024 episode of Today With Hoda & Jenna. “There’s a real appetite for that show out there and it’s just too good to let go of.”

Dane previously hinted at an unexpected journey for his character, telling Variety in 2022, “There’s gonna be redemption. I mean, that’s the trajectory he’s on [after being arrested]. I can’t imagine Cal’s life from solitary confinement. It’s tough to work Cal into the story line when he’s behind bars.”

“I’m very excited for season 3,” Storm Reid, who played Zendaya’s onscreen sister, told Rotten Tomatoes in November 2024. “Unfortunately, Gia’s not returning to the third season, but I am so, so indebted to the cast and the crew of that show, to HBO. Euphoria’s a really special thing and I’m so glad that that’s a part of my legacy and that I was a part of such a cultural phenomenon … I can’t wait to see what season 3 has in store.”

During a stand-up show in March 2024, Nika King poked fun at the delays.

“Season 3 is coming out. I don’t f—ing know. Don’t ask me. I don’t know. It’s one of those things,” King, who plays Zendaya’s onscreen mother, quipped. “People are like, ‘We need season 3.’ I’m like, ‘Bitch, I need season 3. I haven’t paid my rent in six months.’ And Zendaya’s over in Paris at Fashion Week, I’m like, ‘Bitch, come home! I need you! Mama need you!’”

She continued: “You’re laughing and I’m serious. I haven’t booked anything since Euphoria, this is some bulls—. I thought my career was on the rise. After Euphoria I thought I was good. It don’t work that way. I called [Taraji P. Henson], she was like, ‘Bitch, get used to it.”

With Kat out of the picture, her ex-boyfriend Ethan (Austin Abrams) likely won’t make any appearances in season 3 either.

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‘Euphoria’: HBO Drama Boss Promises Fans Satisfying Third & Likely Final Season

By Nellie Andreeva

Filming finally got underway last week on the much-delayed third season of HBO‘s hit drama Euphoria, headlined by two-time Emmy winner Zendaya. And while fans will still have to wait about a year for the new episodes, getting to this point is a small miracle as Euphoria was impacted by the 2023 WGA strike, creator Sam Levinson‘s commitment to his other HBO series, The Idol, as well as the unexpected deaths of star Angus Cloud and executive producer Kevin Turen. There was also some disagreement over Season 3’s creative direction, which pushed production back from spring 2023 to January 2024, with the actors allowed to take other jobs.

Now the cast — featuring probably the strongest lineup of current movie stars ever assembled — has been successfully brought back and working on Season 3 in Los Angeles after the series received a $19.4M California tax credit.

HBO’s head of drama Francesca Orsi on Monday said that she planned to visit the set for the first time this Wednesday.

“I wanted to give them their first week to themselves to settle in. They have beautifully,” she said during an interview with Deadline about HBO’s upcoming drama slate at The White Lotus premiere. “I talked to Sam this morning at like, 6:30 in the morning on his way to set. Everyone’s so happy to be back, and I’m relieved we’re finally here.”

RELATED: ‘True Detective’ Season 5 Setting Revealed As HBO Series Gears Up For Production

Season 3 is fully expected to be the final installment of Euphoria whose cast has blown up and have big feature careers, including stars Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi and recurring player Colman Domingo, who are all back.

“We’ve talked about it, I don’t think anything is over until it’s over, but it’s been discussed that this is the end,” Orsi said.

If indeed this is Euphoria‘s last installment, fans will be happy with it.

“I think you will be very satisfied with this season, and how we bring each of the characters’ whole narrative,” Orsi said.

The eight-episode third season of Euphoria, which features a time jump, taking the characters out of high school, is set to premiere in 2026, four years after the show’s Season 2 run.

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After Three Years And Alleged Drama Behind The Scenes, HBO Confirmed The Start Of Production On “Euphoria” Season 3 With A Single Image

Nearly three years to the day since Season 2 ended, Zendaya is back to filming “Euphoria” Season 3.

BuzzFeed Staff

The season was also nominated for Outstanding Drama Series, and Sydney Sweeney was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

HBO officially renewed the show for a third season shortly before the Season 2 finale aired.

The article alleged that workdays would “sometimes stretch to 18 hours, and there were several complaints made to SAG-AFTRA.”

The allegedly awful working conditions reportedly resulted in several background actors leaving the production.

HBO issued a statement to the Daily Beast saying, “The well-being of cast and crew on our productions is always a top priority. The production was in full compliance with all safety guidelines and guild protocols. It’s not uncommon for drama series to have complex shoots, and COVID protocols add an additional layer. We maintain an open line of communication with all the guilds, including SAG-AFTRA. There were never any formal inquiries raised.”

She said she felt there was “a place for her to go,” referencing Kat’s potential storylines. However, she felt like it wasn’t a fit for the show.

Ferreira said she and Levinson made a “mutual decision” to end their working relationship.

While appearing on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Hunter told host Alex Cooper, “Obviously, I’m still coming to qualms with what’s happened — losing people that we really loved and were a part of this family. If we do go back, that’s going to be tough.”

She also said, “Here’s the real tea. A lot has happened… It’s hard to talk about,” before she broke down talking about all that has happened behind the scenes.

Zendaya — who is also an executive producer on the show — apparently had concerns over Levinson focusing his attention on his short-lived HBO series, The Idol, which was filled with its own controversy at the time. “Her image is pristine,” an anonymous executive told the outlet, adding, “And fans were turning against Sam.”

Meanwhile, the article alleged that Levinson “blamed Zendaya for dragging her feet with an eye toward a burgeoning film career,” with a source saying, “It was all about her. Everybody wanted to make it about Sam, but it was her.”

Last year, Zendaya notably starred in both Dune: Part Two and Challengers.

The SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes in 2023 also reportedly delayed the development of Euphoria and led to Zendaya and other cast members taking different jobs in the interim after the strikes concluded.

Colman Domingo might also be returning for Season 3. A few months ago, he told Variety, “I have not seen a script, but I have heard about some scripts, and what I’ve heard is fantastic.” He added that he heard it’s “some of the most gorgeous writing” from Levinson himself.

Many people were also shocked to find out that some of the bigger stars in the cast were returning. Alongside Zendaya, Domingo, Sweeney, and Elordi have notably been some of the most in-demand actors in the last two years.

It has been almost exactly three years since Euphoria Season 2 aired its final episode, which concluded a wild season that featured so many viral moments it’s hard to name every single one.

The sophomore season of the critically acclaimed HBO drama series earned three Emmy nominations, including Zendaya’s second Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series win.

Since the final episode aired in February 2022, a lot has happened behind the scenes of Euphoria, so much so that many believed the show would not return for a third season.

For starters, following the completion of Season 2, the Daily Beast published an article alleging that series creator Sam Levinson had fostered a “toxic” environment behind the scenes. Sources allegedly revealed to the outlet that the shoot for Season 2 was “hellish.”

Season 2 was also criticized for confusing plot lines and excessive onscreen nudity, with Levinson being called out for both as the show’s sole writer.

Meanwhile, the show has lost some of its stars from the early seasons. For starters, Barbie Ferreira announced her departure from the series shortly after Season 2 ended. On an episode of Armchair Expert, Ferreira criticized the show’s treatment of her character, saying, “I think both parties knew that I really wanted to be able to not be the fat best friend.”

And recently, on the red carpet at the Governors Awards, Storm Reid revealed that she will not be returning as Gia for Season 3. “Euphoria’s a really special thing and I’m so glad that that’s a part of my legacy and that I was a part of such a cultural phenomenon,” Reid added per Variety.

Nika King, who stars as Rue’s mom, also revealed that delays have been tough on her, so much so that she said she hadn’t paid rent in six months. In a TikTok, she said, “People are like, ‘We need Season 3.’ I’m like, ‘Bitch, I need Season 3. I haven’t paid my rent in six months.'”

On top of the alleged behind-the-scenes drama, Angus Cloud, who starred as the beloved Fez, tragically died of an accidental overdose at the age of 25 in July 2023.

Over a year after his sudden death, Hunter Schafer, who stars as Jules, opened up about the “tough” prospect of returning for a third season without Cloud and Euphoria producer Kevin Turen, who died in November 2023 from multiple heart issues.

At the same time as Schafer’s comments, the Hollywood Reporter released an article about the “tragedy and trauma” inside Euphoria. The article detailed a reported fallout and feud between Levinson and Zendaya, which played a part in the Season 3 delay.

Then, in July 2024, HBO confirmed again that Euphoria would really be returning for Season 3 with the “entire main cast,” which likely includes Zendaya, Schafer, Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, Maude Apatow, and Alexa Demie.

And that brings us to today, with HBO confirming that production has FINALLY started on Euphoria Season 3.

HBO and A24, who produces the series, shared a single image of Zendaya as Rue in the upcoming season:

While not much is known about the potential plot for Season 3, Variety previously reported that Levinson had the idea for a five-year time jump and a potential storyline for Rue that included her working as a private investigator. HBO reportedly paused development for Season 3 until they could figure out how to be “creatively in line with the previous two seasons.”

So, there you have it. Euphoria is officially returning for a Season 3 with Zendaya. It’s unclear yet which other cast members are definitely returning, too.