Summary

• Euphoria Season 3 doubts arise due to creative differences on the show's direction and focus.
• Cast still contracted but delays push production to 2025, potential for reduced episode count.
• Zendaya's input leads to script revisions, potential storyline shift for Rue, showing commitment to the show.

Season 3 of Euphoria season 3 has seen massive delays that have called the show's future into question.

There are currently only 18 episodes of Euphoria, which has led to increased anticipation for more content. The show's production was put on pause due to the strikes, but things have not picked back up even after their conclusion. A massive cliffhanger at the end of season 2 created even more buzz surrounding Euphoria season 3. With more than two years ing since season 2’s end, the season 3 delays are becoming increasingly frustrating. A recent Variety report has provided more context as to what is going on with season 3 of Euphoria and whether it will be happening after all.

9 There Are Doubts Euphoria Season 3 Will Actually Happen

Given how many delays Euphoria season 3 has seen, it is no surprise that there is now doubt about whether or not it will ever actually come to fruition. The Variety article explains that while HBO has not explicitly said so, no one at the network is sure that the third season will end up happening. This is because there are different creative visions at play as to what the season should focus on.

Though there is doubt about whether or not Euphoria season 3 will actually happen, Variety has said that sources have confirmed that the cast is contracted for a third season. They have also confirmed that the cast is committed to seeing Euphoria season 3 come to life with the show's creator, Sam Levinson at the head. Given how popular Euphoria has become, it makes sense that the major players involved would be enthusiastic about it continuing. Now only time will tell if the stars will align for it to actually happen.

8 Euphoria Season 3 May Have A 5-Year Time Jump

With all of the production delays, there has been concern that Euphoria will fall into a classic Hollywood mistake. Many times productions will cast much older actors to play high schoolers, which ruins the integrity and reliability of the project. Given that the cast of Euphoria will be much older than they were in season 2, it is no longer believable for them to be playing high schoolers. According to the Variety report, Sam Levinson is combatting this issue by fast-forwarding the characters' stories.

It has been reported that Levinson, who has full creative control over the show, proposed his vision for the future of the show back in 2023. He expressed interest in having a 5-year time jump into the future. While time jumps don't always make sense for series and can sometimes cause frustration for viewers, this seems like the most logical choice for Euphoria. Viewers would get to see the iconic characters in a new stage of life, and the cast would not be forced to play characters that are too young for them now.

7 Euphoria Season 3's Early Scripts Had Strong Roles For Sydney Sweeney & Jacob Elordi

One of Euphoria season 2's most captivating storylines was Cassie and Nate's complicated romantic relationship. Cassie's relentless commitment to winning Nate's full love and affection thoroughly entertained viewers and even became the subject of many TikTok trends. Because of how much audiences enjoyed seeing this part of the show, it makes sense that Levinson's early season 3 drafts really leaned into this dynamic.

Variety reports that HBO really liked Levinson's early season 3 pitch and drafts and found them to be "very compelling". These drafts included meaty arcs for Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi, who play Cassie and Nate. Given how much Sweeney and Elordi have risen in their stardom in the past few years, it is also a logical choice to highlight them in the season as it would be a major draw for viewers.

6 Euphoria Season 3's Rue Story Was A Problem (Including For Zendaya)

Zendaya's involvement with Euphoria is another defining element of the show, as her portrayal of Rue is incredibly well done. Not only does Zendaya play the main character in Euphoria, but she is also an executive producer on the show, which is why her input for it is quite valuable. When it came to season 3, Zendaya was not happy with the direction the scripts were going in according to Variety.

Though she does not have veto power when it comes to scripts, Zendaya reportedly gave significant input to Levinson. She provided direction as to where she thought season 3 should go. When Levinson turned in revised scripts in late 2023 and early 2024, HBO executives became the ones who were not happy with where the show was going.

5 Ideas For Rue's Euphoria Season 3 Story Included Becoming A Private Detective

In the revised scripts that Levinson turned in to HBO, Zendaya's Rue was taking on a different role than viewers had ever seen her in. She was going to be relegated to the background and begin working as a private detective. While this does feel in line with Rue's personality, it would not make sense for as important of a character to be sent into the background of Euphoria.

HBO immediately vetoed this idea, which means that Levinson will have to find a different direction for Rue's character. Insiders have shared that the new scripts that Levinson produced did not fit the show's overall tone. According to Variety, Zendaya presented an interesting idea about where her character could go in the season. She suggested that Rue, now a sober woman in her twenties, could be a pregnancy surrogate.

4 HBO Explored Other Options For Euphoria Season 3

Given how many creative disagreements have occurred in the process of creating Euphoria season 3, HBO looked into other options as to how they could proceed. Variety reports that HBO tinkered with the idea of having Levinson step away from Euphoria altogether. This would have completely shifted the tone and feel of the show, as Levinson is widely credited for being the bloodline behind Euphoria's success and unique feel.

Other ideas were thrown around on how to make Euphoria's continuation work. Some include having a movie or special, like the ones that HBO aired during the pandemic. Because the cast is contracted for a third season though and seems enthusiastic about returning with Levinson, it does not seem like any of these ideas were the right way to proceed.

3 Zendaya, Sweeney, & Elordi Are Still Committed To A Third Season

Euphoria has had an all-star cast which has seen great success over the past few years. Zendaya recently starred in the incredibly popular Dune 2. Sweeney is coming off Anyone But You, which ended up being a big-screen hit. Elordi generated lots of buzz for his role in the psychological thriller, Saltburn. It's clear that these actors are at the height of their careers and are in high demand, so it is reassuring that they still want to be a part of the third season.

Even though their salary was renegotiated after season 2 of Euphoria, the three big-name actors could be making more by participating in the caliber of projects that they recently have been a part of. The fact that they are still enthusiastic about participating in season 3 of Euphoria indicates that the show is something special. Variety calls out that Zendaya, Sweeney, and Elordi are committed to seeing this show through in season 3, and had they not been, viewer enthusiasm and patience for the season could have been ultimately impacted.

2 Euphoria Season 3 Won't Begin Production Until 2025 (If It Happens)

Season 3 of Euphoria has seen delay after delay, and now production for the show won't even begin until 2025. It has been reported by Variety that HBO has officially freed up the Euphoria cast for the rest of 2024. This means that they are free to take on additional projects as they see fit. HBO allegedly promised the cast that there would be solid plans given on October 1 about filming in 2025. In the meantime, Levinson is taking another shot at the scripts and creative conversions will be continuing between him and HBO.

It is not an option for Euphoria to begin with incomplete scripts that are not satisfactory to those involved. This is because Levinson entered into that territory with the controversial HBO show, The Idol. This ended up costing HBO a great deal of money and the show being dubbed a "costly vanity project".

Though there have been many delays and there is still speculation as to whether or not season 3 will happen after all, it has been stated that HBO is intent on getting one more season of Euphoria out. It is possible that Zendaya's involvement and Euphoria's overall fate could be linked to her film Challengers. Its success or lack thereof could be a defining factor as to whether or not the show is able to continue. The Spider-Man 4 film could also serve as a conflict for Zendaya's time and attention, depending on when it begins filming.

1 Euphoria Season 3 May Have A Reduced Episode Count

With all of this, it's clear that Euphoria season 3 could be a completely different show than the other two seasons. Another differentiating factor is that this season could have a reduced episode count. Because of how time-consuming it is to film a show, the shoot could tie up the cast for 25 weeks. The season would, therefore, likely be reduced from its typical eight episodes to six.

Variety did share, however, that the network is not committed to this episode count. They are willing to give Levinson more episodes if the story requires it. Whether or not the season does end up being shorter than what viewers are used to seems to be left up to the creative vision that Levinson ends up landing on for the future of Euphoria.

Source: Variety