Just when we thought Euphoria couldn’t get more intense, season 2 happened. Sure, fans expected drugs, betrayal, and sex with some violence sprinkled in between (you know, your average run-of-the-mill high
school problems), but creator Sam Levinson definitely surprised us with Rue’s breakdown, Cassie’s secret affair, Cal’s penis, and of course, Lexi’s all-too-revealing play.
Plot points aside, Euphoria’s second chapter brought us more beautiful cinematography and Labrinth’s tear-inducing soundtrack. We were also treated to astounding performances by Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, and Nika King, all of whom showed more vulnerability than ever this season.
The adult drama is arguably one of HBO’s most popular series, thanks to its striking depictions of drug addiction, relationships, sexual violence, mental health, and more. And despite critics' vocal judgment of the show’s graphic content, fans and haters alike can’t help but tune in every Sunday. (Viewership for the second season was nearly double than the first, Varietyreported). Thus, it’s no shocker that before the second season ended, Euphoria was renewed for a third.
“Sam, 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,” Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of HBO Programming, said in a statement when the renewal was announced. “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.”
Ahead of the season 2 finale, here are all of your Euphoria questions, answered.
When will season 3 premiere?
We can’t wait for another two years for more Euphoria episodes—and hopefully we won't have to. COVID-19 halted season 2 production, which pushed the release date later than expected; but now that health restrictions on sets have loosened, perhaps the wait won't be as long this time around. The exact release date has not been announced yet.
Who will be in the cast?
We're hoping to see series regulars Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Angus Cloud, Alexa Demie, Jacob Eldori, Sydney Sweeney, Barbie Ferreira, Maude Apatow, Javon Walton, Nika King, Storm Reid, and Austin Abrams again, but we'll have to wait for official confirmation from HBO.
As for season 2 newcomers Dominic Fike and Chloe Cherry, there’s no word yet if they'll be back. We'll have to see if Eric Dane returns too.
What will season three be about?
Depending on how the finale works out, Euphoria will have a lot of questions to answer next season regarding Cal’s whereabouts; Cassie and Nate’s relationship; the showdown between Ashtray, Custer, Fez, and Faye; and Laurie's plans for Rue. We can also hope for some update on Rue and Jules’ friendship. The friends-turned-lovers ended their romance when Jules told Rue’s mother about her drug use. Now the pair aren’t speaking despite the obvious signs that both want to reconnect. Sigh.
Plot points for season 3 are still under wraps (or perhaps not even written yet) but some cast members are already thinking of what could lie ahead for each of their characters.
Apatow “totally” wants to see more of Lexi and Fez's relationship. She told Entertainment Weeklythat it's “very refreshing” to see a bond so “innocent and sweet” between them, especially in contrast to the more extreme elements of the rest of the show. She added, “I think Angus is such a great actor, and we just have so much fun working together. So for selfish reasons, I hope we get to do more scenes together because it's fun.”
King hopes there could be room to explore Leslie's backstory. She told Entertainment Weekly, “Season 3, I'm hoping to see maybe a little more backstory, like where does she work? We never had that conversation. I know in my head where she works, she's got multiple jobs. But I think it'll be fun to see where she comes from.”
While it's still unclear if Chloe Cherry will appear in season 3, she shared her hopes for where Faye's story could go next, such as bonding with Rue. “I think Faye has a story of addiction to tell as Rue does; even though it’s different, I think that they could learn something from each other,” she told Variety. “I also think Rue is a non-judgmental character, and I think that is all Faye needs. I think if they got closer, they would get along because they have these shared experiences and they are both chill girls in spite of it.”
We don't know yet if season 3 will be the last season of Euphoria. HBO's Casey Bloys told TVLine of whether the show will end here, “I will let [exec producer] Sam [Levinson] and Zendaya talk about [that]. I’m very excited about what they’ve got planned [for Season 3]. So I will leave that to them. I will say, generally speaking, we trust where they want to take these characters. So we’ll let the creative team lead the way.”