'Euphoria' Season 3: Everything We Know So Far

As the high from the heartbreaking and hilarious second season of Euphoria wears off, soothe yourself with the news that the drama about raucous teens at East Highland High (and sometimes their parents or drug dealers) has already been renewed for a third season by HBO.

The second season drew criticism for leaving too many storylines unfinished and underusing fan-favorite actors, but it also told gutting, honest, and beautiful narratives about the ups and downs of addiction, teen love, and grief leading it to skyrocket in popularity. According to Variety, viewership nearly doubled from season 1, and Euphoria season 2 became HBO’s second-most watched show since 2004, following only the juggernaut Game of Thrones.

With Euphoria season 3 on the horizon, here's what we know about it.

'Euphoria' Season 2 Ending

Season two had a bittersweet ending: we saw the second act of Lexi’s brilliant play (including a riveting intermission, thanks to a rogue Cassie and Maddy); watched Nate turn his father over to the police; saw Rue come to terms with her grief and close chapters on her relationships with Elliot and Jules; and saw Fezco and Faye be arrested while Ashtray was killed in a shootout with a S.W.A.T. team. 

Renewal

HBO announced in early February that Sam Levinson’s hit drama had been renewed for a third iteration. The streamer hasn’t provided any details yet on when the new season will premiere or what it’ll focus on, but you can assume there will be plenty of winged eyeliner and stress-inducing teen behavior.

“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 news 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.”

It's possible that Zendaya will direct at least one episode of the third season. Speaking to Vogue Italia, she said, "It’s funny. I was actually supposed to direct episode 6, but then I had to act in it. I didn’t have enough time, so, unfortunately, I wasn’t able to this time around. I wanted to have enough time to do it the right way. So, next season, probably."

Cast of 'Euphoria'

Most of season 2's regulars, including Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, Maude Apatow, Nika King, and Storm Reid, are expected to reprise their roles in the third season—but few have been officially confirmed, aside from Zendaya, Erin Dane, and Dominic Fike. Following Angus Cloud's death, it's unknown whether season 3 would trace Chloe Cherry's journey after her arrest in the season 2 finale. (Dane, for his part, told Esquire of Cal's journey: "Last season we see Cal, there's obviously a big dip in his journey back to consciousness, right? But I'm pretty sure we don't see Cal behind bars, or he is not having a relationship with Nate behind glass.")

In August of 2022, Barbie Ferreira, who plays Kat, confirmed that she would not be returning for season 3 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," she wrote on Instagram. "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." The announcement came after months of rumors of a falling-out between Ferreira and show creator Levinson.

Meanwhile, Kathrine Narducci, who played the young version of Fezco's grandmother, told ELLE: “I hope I go back. I got to come out of that dang coma. I told Sam [Levinson] I want to come out of the coma, and go after Laurie."

It's always best not to get too attached to Euphoria characters, however; Dominic Fike, who plays Elliot, has noted that Levinson told him he could leave the show at any time to pursue his music.

Potential Release Date

In a May 2023 interview with Deadline, HBO's head of drama noted that the release date for season 3 of Euphoria had been pushed back to at least 2025. “Euphoria is one of those that we had begun writing in tandem with post-production on Idol but at this point, we don’t have countless scripts,” Orsi said. “We can’t start shooting, so the delivery of that show—ideally in 2025—will be determined on when we can pick back up with Sam, who at this point is all pencils down and just finishing posts on Idol.”

During a press event on November 2, 2023, network chief Casey Bloys confirmed that Euphoria will not return for season 3 until 2025, per Deadline.

In March 2024, Variety reported that Euphoria season 3 had been delayed once again, in response to speculation that the upcoming season had been scrapped entirely. Speaking to the outlet, an HBO spokesperson clarified that the scripts for season 3 are still being written.

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

The update also comes two weeks after Sydney Sweeney discussed a possible return to filming, in a interview with MTV's Josh Horowitz. She said at the time that she was set to "go back to Euphoria" after promoting her latest film, adding that she was "excited" to go back. “It’s like home when I go back to it," she said of the series. "I like it. I’m excited, it’s like family.”

However, at a later event at 92nd Street Y, she hinted that she may have spoken too soon. When discussing what she could and couldn't say about season 3, she joked, "Honestly, it’s, like, as scary as talking about Marvel. I said one thing, and it went everywhere."

She went on to reiterate that she's "excited" about the new season. "I love Cassie. Cassie truly is a dream to play and as an actor, I’m so fortunate that I’ve had a character like her at such a young age," Sweeney added. "And, of course, I wanna keep living her crazy (life). I love it."

Plot

In an August 2023 interview with Elle, creator Sam Levinson described Season 3 as a "film noir," and adding that, through Rue's storyline, he plans to "explore what it means to be an individual with principles in a corrupt world."

Several of the show's stars were asked about the future of the series in various interviews throughout 2022. Speaking to Variety, Zendaya said of Rue: "Rue wants to be here and it’s up to her now. I really hope that we can explore her life in the future, closer to the other side and her sobriety journey.” 

But for now, it sounds like the cast are in the dark about what's next, plot-wise: "I know nothing. I’m so curious," Maude Apatow said in an interview with Variety. "We’ve heard whispers but barely anything.”

“I feel like my whole life is a secret," Sydney Sweeney joked to Variety in November. "It’s really hard.”