The third season of HBO’s Euphoria is moving ahead with a completely new look for its characters. After a long wait filled with behind-the-scenes changes, filming for the new season began in early 2025 and wrapped in November 2025. The show is scheduled to return to screens in April 2026.
The biggest change viewers will see is a five-year time jump. This means the characters are no longer in high school; they are now young adults navigating the complexities of life after college. Series creator Sam Levinson stated that moving past high school felt necessary. “The one thing we all agreed on is we can’t go back to high school,” he said.
A New Chapter With Big Problems For Rue Bennett
When the story picks up, Zendaya‘s character, Rue Bennett, is in a dangerous situation. She is in Mexico, trying to find ways to pay off a significant debt to the sinister drug dealer Laurie, played by Martha Kelly. This storyline stems directly from the end of Season 2, where Rue was given a suitcase of drugs to sell.
Rue’s journey was originally pitched to go in some very different directions. Early ideas from Levinson included Rue working as a private investigator in a film noir-style plot. Zendaya herself reportedly suggested an alternative where a sober Rue becomes a pregnancy surrogate. The network did not move forward with these specific concepts.
Engagements, Envy, and New Careers
The time jump brings major changes for the rest of the core cast, setting the stage for new conflicts.
- Cassie and Nate: In one of the biggest reveals, Sydney Sweeney‘s Cassie and Jacob Elordi‘s Nate are not only engaged but living together in the suburbs. Levinson described Cassie as being “very addicted to social media and envious of what appears to be the big lives that all of her high school classmates are living”.
- Maddy’s Hustle: Alexa Demie‘s Maddy is working at a Hollywood talent agency and managing her own undisclosed “side hustles”.
- Jules and Lexi: Hunter Schafer‘s Jules is in art school, anxious about building a career as a painter. Maude Apatow‘s Lexi is working as an assistant to a showrunner, a role that will be played by new cast member Sharon Stone.
Behind the Scenes: The Road to Season 3
The path to this third season was not smooth. The production faced significant delays due to creative discussions, the busy schedules of its now-famous cast, and tragic real-life events.
After Season 2 ended in early 2022, multiple script concepts were developed and reconsidered. Reports indicate that HBO and Levinson did not initially agree on the creative direction, leading to a pause in production in March 2024. The network even considered the possibility of continuing the show without Levinson.
The sudden death of actor Angus Cloud in July 2023 also deeply impacted the show. Cloud, who played the beloved drug dealer Fezco, was set to have a larger role in early plans for Season 3. His absence will undoubtedly be felt.
Despite these challenges, the full main cast, including Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, Hunter Schafer, and Colman Domingo, are returning. They will be joined by a list of new actors, including Danielle Deadwyler, Eli Roth, and Natasha Lyonne. Some actors from earlier seasons, like Storm Reid and Austin Abrams, will not be returning.
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The Creator’s Vision: From High School to a “Corrupt World”
Sam Levinson has hinted that the new season will explore more mature themes. He has described wanting to use Rue to “explore what it means to be an individual with principles in a corrupt world”. This aligns with his earlier comments about giving the season a “film noir” feeling.
The goal is to reflect the higher stakes of early adulthood. “The stakes are a bit higher than they were in the past because the consequences are real and no one’s gonna swoop in and save you,” Levinson explained. He expressed strong confidence in the new episodes, adding, “I feel strongly this is our best season yet”.
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