Many viewers know HBO’s Euphoria for its raw look at teenage life, stunning visuals, and Zendaya’s award-winning role as Rue. The show feels fresh and new. But the truth is, this hit drama did not come from a completely original idea. The series is actually an adaptation of an Israeli show that came out years earlier.
The Sam Levinson created series has become a cultural phenomenon since it first aired in 2019. Season 3 is currently releasing new episodes. Yet, the core concept of following a group of troubled teenagers struggling with drugs, sex, and identity was first brought to screens in Israel back in 2012.
The Israeli Original That Started Everything
Long before Rue, Maddy, and Nate became household names, there was another Euphoria. The original series aired on Israel’s Hot 3 channel in 2012. It was created by Ron Leshem, Dafna Levin, and Tmira Yardeni. This version followed a similar path. It focused on a group of teenagers whose lives were falling apart due to addiction, grief, and violence.
The Israeli Euphoria only lasted for one season with 10 episodes. The show faced heavy criticism from the Israeli Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council. The explicit content was too much for the local audience at that time. Because of the backlash and the social climate, the network decided not to renew it for a second season.
However, the quality of the writing did not go unnoticed. Sam Levinson and HBO saw the potential in the concept. They bought the rights to adapt the show for American audiences. The creators of the original Israeli series even stayed on as executive producers for the HBO version to help guide the transition.
How Sam Levinson Changed the Story for HBO
While the origin story of the show is rooted in Israel, Sam Levinson did not simply copy the script. He made significant changes to make the show his own. The biggest difference is the central plot. The Israeli Euphoria was built around a real-life murder case from 2004. An 18-year-old named Ra’anan Levy was stabbed to death outside a club. The original show used this tragedy as the main driver for the characters’ trauma.
Levinson decided to drop the murder mystery angle completely. Instead, he pulled from his own difficult past. He has spoken openly about spending his teenage years in hospitals and rehab centers. He struggled with heavy drug addiction until he was 19 years old.
“I spent most of my teenage years in hospitals, rehab facilities, and halfway houses. By the time I was 16, I had accepted that drugs were going to kill me and there was no point in fighting it.” – Sam Levinson
This personal background gave the HBO version a different emotional weight. Cinematographer Marcell Rév also confirmed that Levinson chose not to keep much from the Israeli plot. He only kept the general setting of a “free portrait” of young people born in the early 2000s.
Comparing Characters: Who is Who?
Fans of the HBO show might be surprised to learn that many of their favorite characters have direct links to the Israeli version. The names and looks have changed, but the struggles are very similar.
Rue (Zendaya) is based on the character Hofit. In the Israeli show, Hofit is a witness to a murder. She turns to drugs to deal with the guilt and reality of what she saw. She also struggles with severe mental health issues.
Fezco (Angus Cloud) has a counterpart named Dekel. Just like Fez, Dekel is the quiet drug dealer who is close to the main character. He tries to have a relationship with Hofit but is often rejected.
Even Ashtray (Javon Walton) existed in the original show under the name Tomeriko. He was the young helper to the drug dealer. In the Israeli version, this character actually played a much bigger role in the violence, committing a murder that changed the story.
However, not everyone made the cut. Fan favorites like Jules (Hunter Schafer), Lexi (Maude Apatow), and Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) did not exist in the 2012 version. Levinson created these roles specifically for the American adaptation to expand the world.
Also Read:
The Success of the Remake vs. The Original
The most interesting part of this story is how differently the two versions were received. The Israeli Euphoria was canceled because audiences and regulators found it too extreme. Yet, just a few years later, the American version became one of HBO’s biggest hits. It is currently the network’s fourth most-watched show, sitting behind giants like Game of Thrones.
The show has won 5 Emmy Awards, including two for Zendaya for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. It has launched its young cast into superstardom. The Israeli show, while critically respected, never reached that level of fame.
Season 3 is airing right now. It picked up on April 12, 2026, with new episodes releasing weekly. The story jumps forward five years. Rue is now in Mexico trying to pay off a debt to a drug dealer. Cassie and Nate are engaged and living in the suburbs. The show continues to move further away from its Israeli origins, but the foundation remains the same.
Stay updated with more deep dives into your favorite TV shows and Hollywood news on VvipTimes.
