The long wait for the next part of Euphoria is almost over. HBO has set a premiere window of April 2026 for the show’s third season. After more than four years, the story will finally continue, but everything is different. The characters are not in high school anymore. A major five-year time jump will place the friends into their young adult lives, facing new and more serious problems.
Show creator Sam Levinson recently explained what this new world looks like. He says the characters are now “out of the safety net of school, figuring out who you are in the world.” This change brings a new level of tension. “The stakes are a bit higher than they were in the past as the consequences are real,” he said. The coming season promises to show the harsh reality of life after the protection of home and school has faded away.
Where the Characters Are Now After Five Years
The time jump moves the story forward for everyone, placing familiar faces in surprising new situations. Here is where viewers will find the main characters when the show returns.
Rue Bennett, played by Zendaya, is in a dangerous spot. Levinson revealed that the season finds Rue “south of the border in Mexico, in debt to Laurie” and “trying to come up with some very innovative ways to pay it off”. Martha Kelly returns as the intimidating drug dealer Laurie, meaning Rue’s struggle for sobriety has taken a dangerous turn far from home.
Perhaps the biggest shock is the status of Cassie Howard and Nate Jacobs. The tumultuous couple, played by Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi, are engaged and living in the suburbs. Levinson confirmed they will get married this season, calling it an event he promises “will be an unforgettable night”. However, their life is not perfect. Cassie is described as being “very addicted to social media and envious of what appears to be the big lives” of her old friends.
Other characters are navigating early careers. Jules Vaughn (Hunter Schafer) is in art school and nervous about building a career as a painter. Maddy Perez (Alexa Demie) is working at a Hollywood talent agency and has “her own side hustles going”. Lexi Howard (Maude Apatow) has also entered the entertainment industry, working as an assistant to a showrunner—a role that will be played by the iconic Sharon Stone.
A Big New Cast Joins the Returning Favorites
Season 3 will feature a large mix of returning actors and many new faces. The core group from East Highland High is coming back, including Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, Alexa Demie, and Maude Apatow. Also returning are Eric Dane (Cal Jacobs), Colman Domingo (Ali), and Nika King (Leslie Bennett).
The list of new actors joining the show is long and notable. It includes stars like Natasha Lyonne, Danielle Deadwyler, and director Eli Roth. Pop star Rosalía is also joining in an acting role, expressing her excitement to be part of the series she admires. Former NFL star Marshawn Lynch and actor Kadeem Hardison are among the other new additions.
Not every familiar face will return. Barbie Ferreira, who played Kat Hernandez, left the show after Season 2. Storm Reid, who played Rue’s sister Gia, also confirmed she will not be in the new season. The show will also move forward without Fezco, following the tragic death of actor Angus Cloud in July 2023.
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The Long Road to Season 3
The gap of over four years between seasons was caused by several factors. After Season 2 ended in early 2022, the production timeline was affected by creator Sam Levinson’s work on another HBO series, The Idol, and the busy schedules of the now in-demand cast. The 2023 Hollywood strikes also caused significant delays.
During the long wait, even the cast was often unsure about when filming would start. In early 2024, Jacob Elordi joked about the delay, saying, “I hope it’s soon, or they’re going to have to Benjamin Button me or something”. Nika King, who plays Rue’s mother, humorously expressed her financial urgency for the show to return during a stand-up routine.
Filming for the eight-episode season finally began in February 2025 and wrapped in late 2025. The confirmed April 2026 premiere date marks the end of a very long anticipation for fans and the cast alike.
“I feel strongly this is our best season yet.” – Sam Levinson, Euphoria Creator
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