Euphoria season 3: What we know so far

Cue the Labrinth score: Euphoria is getting a third season. After years of delays, the HBO hit drama finally started production on its newest season in January 2025.

Details about season 3 are largely unknown, though we do know that most of the main cast will be returning, including Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi, Alexa Demie, Sydney Sweeney, Maude Apatow, and Storm Reid. The plot of season 3, as well as the return of newcomers Dominic Fike and Chloe Cherry, is still unknown, but here, we’ve rounded up everything we do know so far.

When will season 3 air?
With production on season 3 commencing in January 2025, HBO confirmed that Euphoria will officially return to our screens some time in 2026.

On February 10, HBO released a first look at Zendaya as Rue in season 3. The still captures Zendaya from the back, with her head turned slightly toward the camera.

In a statement released July 12, 2024, HBO’s EVP of programming, Francesca Orsi, said in a statement: “I am thrilled that we are ready to begin production on Euphoria in January. We could not be happier with our creative partnership with Sam and this incredible cast. We look forward to bringing this new season of Euphoria to life for the fans.”

There are a few factors that have caused the significant delay in filming. Back in 2023, the writers’ strike paused production across the industry, and showrunner Sam Levinson was also focused on his and The Weeknd’s drama show, The Idol (which was canceled after one season).

Meanwhile, many of the stars of the show—like Zendaya, Sweeney, and Elordi—have been booked with back-to-back major projects, which could’ve made it harder to coordinate filming. Not to mention, Levinson insists on writing the entire show himself, which likely slows down the process as well.

There will be some buzzy guest stars

According to Deadline, Euphoria's third season will receive a number of star-studded apperances for what's likely to be the show's final season. Spanish superstar Rosalía is set to join the cast as well as A Different World's Kadeem Hardison and Super Bowl Champion Marshawn Lynch.

HBO later confirmed the news with Rosalia providing a statement on her casting along with a first look at her character.

“If there's anything that excites me as much as finding a good melody or a good lyric, it's becoming a better performer every day," she shared. "Euphoria has been my favourite series of the last few years and I couldn't be happier and more grateful to be acting alongside all these colleagues that I admire so much and contributing my 'granito de arena' to bring Sam's vision to reality. I can't wait to share what we're doing!"

Which cast members will return?
With the announcement of the production date, HBO also confirmed the return of the entire principal cast, which includes Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Alexa Demie, Sydney Sweeney, and Jacob Elordi, among others who will all reprise their characters for the show’s next installment. Barbie Ferreira, who portrayed Kat in the series, announced on Instagram, however, that she will not be reprising her role.

“After four years of getting to embody the most special and enigmatic character Kat, I’m having to say a very teary-eyed goodbye,” wrote Ferreira, per Variety. “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.”

It’s unclear whether or not we’ll see more of Cal Jacobs (Eric Dane), since the season 2 finale saw him turned into the police by his son. Ashtray (Javon Walton) could also only return by way of flashbacks or dream sequences since his character was killed in a police shootout in season 2’s final episode. Meanwhile, due to star Angus Cloud’s tragic passing in July 2023, his character, Fezco, will not be returning to the show either.

Will the characters still be in high school?
Many of our questions about East Highland High have gone unanswered (When do these kids go to class? How big is the drama club’s budget?), but season 3 will at least lead the characters toward graduation. Zendaya hinted to The Hollywood Reporter that season 3 could explore the characters’ lives beyond high school, either as seniors looking toward the future or as graduates.

“I think it’ll be exciting to explore the characters out of high school,” she told the outlet. “I want to see what Rue looks like in her sobriety journey, how chaotic that might look. But also with all the characters, in the sense where they’re trying to figure out what to do with their lives when high school is over and what kind of people they want to be.”

Lead image: HBO

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