Summary
AlthoughEuphoriawas confirmed for a third season back in 2022, it has since been pushed back time and time again, and now a multitude of issues could ensure it never happens at all.Euphoriafirst premiered in 2019 and made waves as a television show that pushed boundaries. Earning strong reviews, the series was praised for its visuals and style, but it also received some criticism, particularly during season 2. Since then,Euphoriahas garnered a considerable fan base, and its cast members have developed into major stars.
Euphoriacame out in 2019, followed by two specials in 2020 and 2021, and season 2 in 2022. That year,Euphoriaseason 3 was confirmed. However, two years later, the next installment still lacks a solid script, according toVariety.The series was delayed due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike but continues dragging. HBO CEO Casey Bloys toldVarietythatEuphoriaseason 3 is still happeningwith the “core cast” and a time-jump. Yet, several key factors could continue bogging down the next season, to the point where it may get scrapped for good.
Euphoria Season 2 Finale: Why Rue Walks Away From Jules
The Euphoria season 2 finale sees Jules come to terms with much of her recent trauma, yet she still chooses to walk away from Jules at the play.
6Many Of Euphoria’s Young Actors Have Become Major Stars
Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, Hunter Schafer, & Sydney Sweeney Have Huge Careers
One significantproblem withEuphoriaseason 3is that its cast has expanded far beyond the series. These days,Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, and Hunter Schafer are all well-known names with busy schedules.WhenEuphoriafirst began, the same was not true. For many, the HBO show was their breakout role. For some, it was their first acting job ever, as is the case for Hunter Schafer. These same actors have now grown immensely in popularity. Because of this, they are often busy with other projects, particularly movies,which means it may be difficult for them to return to a television project, even one from HBO.
For example, Jacob Elordi’s career has seen incredible growth since 2022. While he had already established himself beforeEuphoria, he has since accumulated massive projects, such asSaltburnandPriscilla,and aFrankensteinremake, directed by Guillermo Del Toro. After working with huge names like Sofia Coppola and Emerald Fennell,there is no telling whether Elordi will be willing to return to television. The same could be said for Hunter Schafer, who recently starred inThe Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,or Sydney Sweeney, who appeared in three major films back-to-back recently:Anyone But You, Madame Web,andImmaculate.
That said, the sudden rise in fame forEuphoria’scast is not necessarily a death sentence, and Zendaya is a good example of it. Zendaya enteredEuphoriaalready a big star. In 2019, she had a stable fan base from her Disney Channel days and was starring as MJ in Marvel’sSpider-Manmovies. BeforeEuphoriaseason 2, she even took on the role of Chani inDune.In this way,Zendaya has chosen to do big movie roles andEuphoriaside by side. This could be true for the rest ofEuphoria’scast as well.
5Euphoria Season 3 Needs To Work Around The Cast’s Busy Schedules
Euphoria Must Fit Between Other Cast Projects
Thecast ofEuphoria’s rise to success comes with increasingly busy schedules.Euphoriaseason 3 will have to try to fit in between these schedules, which may be a harder task than it once was. Previously,Euphoriawas the primary project for some members of its cast.However, now that they have been allowed to join other movies and television series following season 3’s delay, they have new projects that take precedence. With such a large ensemble, it may prove very difficult to get all the actors together to film the new season.
Zendaya, for one, has had two crucial film releases this year and may need some time off.
For many ofEuphoria’sactors, their schedules are packed for the coming future.JacobElordi has two movies and a TV series already lined up, includingFrankenstein, On Swift Horses,andThe Narrow Road to the Deep North.Hunter Schafer is set to appear in the movie,Mother Mary,and the TV adaptation,Blade Runner 2099shortly. Plus, Sydney Sweeney has two movies in post-production:Echo ValleyandEden. Other actors may simply want a break. Zendaya, for one, has had two crucial film releases this year and may need some time off.
4Euphoria’s Actors Are Getting Too Old To Play High Schoolers
Euphoria’s Cast Are In Their Mid-20s
Another problem is thatEuphoria’sactors are getting too old to play high schoolers. In 2019, many ofEuphoria’scast members were already several years older than their characters. Now, Zendaya is 27 years old, Jacob Elordi is 26, and Hunter Schafer is 25. It is incredibly common for older actors to play high school students in Hollywood, but at a certain point, the age gap is simply too obvious. By appearing too old, the actors can take audiences out of the show. Unfortunately, the longer thatEuphoriaseason 3 is delayed, the worse this problem will get.
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Luckily,Euphoriahas a plan in place to make up for the cast’s aging. Reportedly,Euphoriaseason 3 is going to include a time jumpwherein itscharacters will no longer be in high school. This fix also brings new problems with it though. HBO’s Casey Bloys toldVarietythattakingEuphoriaout of its original high school setting has led to some debateabout where to bring the series next. However, if Levinson can make post-high schoolEuphoriawork, then that will clear up a major problem for the series.
3Euphoria Season 3 Is Undergoing Lengthy Rewrites
Euphoria Season 3’s Story Has Been Questionable
Euphoriaseason 3 suffers from internal issues as well. Namely,Sam Levinson has been forced to write and rewrite the scriptsfor season 3. In an article fromVarietyin March 2024, it was reported that Levinson wrote the scripts forEuphoriaseason 3, however, Angus Cloud’s tragic death and significant feedback from Zendaya forced him to completely scrap what he had. Levinson’s next round of scripts saw a similar fate. Even Rue having a background role as a private detective was reportedly considered at some point. Now,Euphoriaseason 3 is on its next iteration.
According toVariety,Zendaya suggested a plot line in which Rue becomes a surrogate mother.
The problem withEuphoriaseason 3’s scripts can be linked to the time jump. While adding a time jump solves the issue ofEuphoria’saging cast, it brings up new hurdles.Levinson has to revamp each character, giving them a more adult story arc. As shown by the Rue private detective idea, this change clearly isn’t easy. Overall, this struggle to updateEuphoriahints that perhaps the show is at its best in a high school setting. There is a chance thatEuphoriasimply can’t work five years in the future.
2Euphoria Season 3 May Be Hurt By The Idol’s Failure
Sam Levinson’s Other Show Flopped
One outside factor that could affectEuphoriaseason 3 is the failure ofThe Idol.Released in the summer of 2023,The Idolis Sam Levinson’s most recent television series. It starred Lily-Rose Depp as a pop singer who meets a seedy and toxic music producer played by The Weeknd, otherwise known as Abel Tesfaye.Critics slammedThe Idolfor being boring, aggressive, and oversaturatedwith graphic sexual content. ThoughThe Idolenjoyed Levinson’s striking visuals, the story itself fell into the stereotypes it was trying to satirize.
The Idolwas canceled in August 2023.
The Idol’sfailure could create doubts about Sam Levinson’sEuphoriaideas for the future. In fact,thisisn’t the first Levinson project that has done poorly. BothMalcom & MarieandDeep Watergarnered rather average reviews, withMalcom & Marieearning 56% on Rotten Tomatoes, andDeep Water36%. Ultimately, this poor press could cast suspicion on Sam Levinson and his work, especially now thatEuphoriaseason 3 is taking so long to develop.
Sam Levinson’s Euphoria Season 3 Plan Completely Changes The Show’s Original Premise
Euphoria was conceived as a dark and twisted high school series, but Sam Levinson’s season 3 plan turns it into a completely different show.
1Several Euphoria Stars Doubt Season 3 Will Happen
Euphoria’s Cast Is In Limbo
For the most part,Euphoria’scast is as in the dark as audienceswhen it comes to the show’s return. Many of the actors have given brief statements aboutEuphoriaseason 3, offering clues about what they do and don’t know about the next installment. While Zendaya is an executive producer forEuphoria,she toldVarietythat season 3 is “beyond her.“She acknowledged that she would definitely come back, but only if the story suited the characters.
Euphoriaseason 3 is in a strange limbo.
Hunter Schafer also toldVarietythat she is excited to return toEuphoria,though she had no insight about when and if it would happen. In an interview onThe Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon,Jacob Elordi even joked that he had no idea when season 3 would happen, but that if it didn’t occur soon, “they would have to Benjamin Button [him.]“In the end,Euphoriaseason 3 is in a strange limbo. Even the cast is waiting for a solid answer. However, as of now,Euphoriaseason 3 is still happening - just a bit later than expected
Euphoria
Cast
Euphoria is a teen drama created by Sam Levinson and starring Zendaya, Maude Apatow, and Angus Cloud. The series deals with the dark reality of a drug-addicted teen on her road to recovery as she faces a multitude of challenges and issues.
