The long wait for the third season of Euphoria is almost over. After more than four years, HBO has released the first official look at the new season, confirming it will premiere in April 2026. This new chapter features a major change: the characters are no longer in high school. The story jumps forward five years, showing Rue and her friends as young adults navigating a new set of challenges.
The first teaser footage and images have created excitement. They offer a glimpse of the characters in new situations, from Zendaya’s Rue looking thoughtful in a church to Sydney Sweeney’s Cassie holding a melting ice cream cone. The release also confirms a massive, star-studded cast of both returning favorites and surprising new additions, making this one of the most talked-about returns on television.
Where the Characters Are Now: Life After High School
Creator Sam Levinson recently shared details about where the main characters find themselves after the five-year jump. Their lives have taken dramatic and sometimes dark turns.
The story picks up with Rue Bennett far from home. She is in Mexico, still in debt to the dangerous drug dealer Laurie, played by Martha Kelly, and is desperately trying to find a way to pay her back. In the new teaser, a voiceover from Rue sets the tone: “A few years after high school, I don’t know if life was exactly what I wished”.
Perhaps the most shocking news is about Cassie Howard and Nate Jacobs. Once a secret and chaotic relationship, they are now engaged and living in the suburbs. Levinson confirmed a major plot point: “I will say that Cassie and Nate do in fact get married. I’m confirming it. And I promise that it will be an unforgettable night”. However, their life isn’t perfect. Cassie is described as being very addicted to social media and envious of the seemingly bigger lives her old friends are living.
The other characters are on their own paths:
- Jules Vaughn (Hunter Schafer) is in art school, anxious about building a career as a painter.
- Maddy Perez (Alexa Demie) is working at a talent agency in Hollywood and managing her own side projects.
- Lexi Howard (Maude Apatow) is working as an assistant to a showrunner, a role played by the iconic new cast member Sharon Stone.
A Massive Cast Update: Who’s In and Who’s Out
Season 3 features one of television’s largest and most exciting casts, blending original stars with major new talent.
Returning Main Cast:
The core group of stars is back, including Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, Alexa Demie, and Maude Apatow. They are joined by returning series regulars Eric Dane, Colman Domingo, Dominic Fike, and Nika King. Actors Martha Kelly and Chloe Cherry have been promoted from recurring roles to series regulars for this season.
Major New Additions:
The list of new actors joining the world of East Highland is impressive and includes:
- Sharon Stone as a showrunner who employs Lexi.
- Singer Rosalía, making her major acting debut.
- Natasha Lyonne, Danielle Deadwyler, and director Eli Roth.
- Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Toby Wallace in key recurring roles.
- NFL star Marshawn Lynch and YouTube personality Trisha Paytas.
Cast Members Not Returning:
Some familiar faces will not be back. Barbie Ferreira, who played Kat, announced her departure from the series in 2022. Storm Reid, who played Rue’s sister Gia, is not returning due to scheduling conflicts. The show will also continue without Austin Abrams (Ethan) and Algee Smith (McKay).
The season will honor the memory of Angus Cloud, who played the beloved character Fezco and died in 2023. He will not appear in the new season.
Fans React to the New Direction and Big Twists
The news about the characters, especially the marriage of Cassie and Nate, has sparked intense reactions online. Fans have taken to forums like Reddit to share their thoughts on the unexpected turn.
Some are excited for the drama, with one fan commenting, “I can already see the toxic from this union oozing out of my screen. I can’t wait”. Others expressed disappointment in the storyline, with a different fan stating, “I actually hate that they wrote them getting married”.
Many are optimistic about the new direction, with a viewer noting, “Very exciting. I have a feeling a lot of people will be eating their words and that this season blows it out of the water”. Another fan summed up the mixed feelings by saying, “I’m here for all of this mess… Do I think it’s gonna be a sh*t show? Absolutely… but so far I’m intrigued”.
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Production Journey and What to Expect
The path to Season 3 has been long and faced several delays. After being officially renewed in February 2022, production was affected by Hollywood labor disputes and tragic events, including the passing of executive producer Kevin Turen. Filming finally began in February 2025 and wrapped in November of the same year.
The new season will consist of eight episodes. While HBO has confirmed the premiere month is April 2026, an exact start date has not yet been announced. When it returns, the series will be available on HBO and stream on Max.
