‘Euphoria’ Season 3 Filming Delayed, Cast Can “Pursue Other Opportunities”

Filming for Euphoria season three has been put on hold.

The Sam Levinson drama was expected to start production soon on its long-awaited new season. But that plan has changed to give Levinson more time to work on the dark teen drama’s scripts.

In addition, the show’s cast — which includes Dune: Part Two star Zendaya and Anyone but You star Sydney Sweeney — is being allowed to pursue other opportunities.

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

That said, the cast has not been released from their contracts, and HBO still intends to get Euphoria season three on the air sometime in 2025.

In an interview with Elle for Zendaya’s September 2023 cover story, Levinson had teased the new season as a “film noir,” saying Zendaya’s character Rue will “explore what it means to be an individual with principles in a corrupt world.”

The acclaimed Euphoria is one of HBO’s top-rated series. Euphoria last aired in February 2022 and suffered the death of star Angus Cloud, who died July 2023 at age 25. The show was renewed for a third season halfway through season two airing.

Levinson was writing the third season before the May 2, 2023, writers strike, a source had told THR at the time of Cloud’s death — as the actor had a central storyline in the season two finale. With the season halted amid the work stoppage, it was unclear what the creator had planned.

Last year, Levinson also spent some time launching his short-lived provocative music industry drama The Idol.

At an event last week, Sweeney was asked about rumors that the hit HBO show might not be coming back. She stalled by taking a sip from her water, before telling the moderator, “Honestly, [talking about Euphoria is] like, as scary as talking about Marvel. I said one thing, and it went everywhere.” When asked if she had seen any scripts for season three, she replied, “Maybe. I don’t know.” She was referring to another interview earlier this month, when Sweeney hinted she expected to start start filming Euphoria soon, telling MTV, “I go into Euphoria” next.

Sweeney’s comments came shortly after her co-star Nika King, who plays Zendaya’s onscreen mother, went viral over a stand-up clip when talking about the long gap between seasons two and three. “Season three is coming out — I don’t fucking know. Don’t ask me, I don’t know. … ‘We need season three!’ Bitch, I need season three! I haven’t paid my rent in six months,” she said at a Hollywood Improv performance earlier this year.

She later clarified in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter that she wasn’t being fully serious: “My reference about Euphoria during my stand-up tour was a lighthearted joke. Most people have seen me portray serious characters onscreen but my roots are in comedy. I actually have a few film projects releasing this year that I’m excited about. It’s a blessing to craft a career in both drama and comedy,” she said.

In November 2023, HBO chief Casey Bloys had revealed that Euphoria was among the HBO series to have been pushed to 2025 due to the dual Hollywood strikes.