Everything You Need to Know About Euphoria Season 3

This post contains minor spoilers for the first episode of Euphoria season 3.

It's been a long, bumpy road to Euphoria season three, but we are finally here. Repeatedly struck by rewrites, delays, and other hurdles, many fans worried that the hit series was doomed, headed straight for development hell, but even if arguably transformed into a completely different show, the show's third installment premiered on April 12, sparking much online discourse after just one episode.

The HBO series, created by Sam Levinson, first premiered in 2019 and reached new heights with season two, racking up unprecedented viewership momentum and inspiring Internet-breaking discourse on social media with each episode. The interest is so high that even X confirmed Euphoria had become the most-tweeted-about TV show of the decade ahead of the season two finale on February 27, 2022—and season three seems to be following suit as far as chatter is concerned.

If you want to get the most out of Euphoria season three as it hits HBO and HBO Max, we have gathered all the information you need to know below—from episode titles and release dates to new, returning, and exiting characters, and everything in between. (And, yes, if you need a refresher on why the third season was so delayed, we also got you.)

Eddy Chen/HBO

Following the show's April 12 premiere, new episodes of Euphoria will debut each Sunday at 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO. Episodes will be available to stream on HBO Max at the same time.

Like previous installments, Euphoria season three will have eight episodes. (Rue's and Jules's special episodes, titled “Trouble Don’t Last Always" and “F*ck Anyone Who's Not A Sea Blob,” aired in between seasons during the COVID-19 lockdown, and don't count towards the total.)

You can see the names and exact release dates of each episode of Euphoria season three below:

Eddy Chen/HBO

The season's official logline is as follows: “A group of childhood friends wrestle with the virtue of faith, the possibility of redemption, and the problem of evil.”

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Zendaya previously said, “I think it’ll be exciting to explore the characters out of high school. I want to see what Rue looks like in her sobriety journey, how chaotic that might look. But also with all the characters, in the sense where they’re trying to figure out what to do with their lives when high school is over, and what kind of people they want to be. What was special about [season two] was that we got to dive into [the other characters] in a much deeper sense. I think we can do that again with the third season. There’s so much talent, you want to make sure everybody has the chance to have that.”

Though we are moving forward and, as mentioned above, are almost witnessing the birth of a completely different show, the season two finale left us with plenty of unanswered questions, and more than a couple of them were already addressed during the season three premiere. As for the rest, we are going to have to wait and see.

Eddy Chen/HBO

HBO dropped the second trailer for Euphoria season three on March 30. The trailer, which you can watch above, opens up with Rue (Zendaya) in an interrogation room. “Have you ever been to Mexico?” an officer asks, then we get glimpses of Rue's life in Mexico…smuggling drugs.

“In the beginning, we had to make a choice about who we were and what we wanted,” Rue's voice then narrates as we get peeks of Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) and Nate's (Jacob Elordi) wedding, Jules (Hunter Schafer) painting in her studio, and Lexi (Maude Apatow) making moves in Hollywood with a cameo from new cast member Sharon Stone. “But what we didn't realize is how far we were willing to go,” Rue continues.

The next scene cuts to Maddy (Alexa Demie) getting ready to link up with Cassie and help her with her NSFW content career. We also see Jules as a sugar baby, and Nate seemingly being targeted. Guess Rue is not the only one running from things and keeping secrets. We also see the late Eric Dane as Cal Jacobs reuniting with Jules. And then, all hell breaks loose. “In the end, no matter who you are or what you want, we all answer to God,” Rue finally proclaims.

If the trailer looks extra cinematic, that's because season three of Euphoria was shot on a new Kodak motion picture film stock in both 35mm and 65mm, per HBO, becoming the first narrative television series to shoot a significant volume of 65mm film.

Patrick Wymore/HBO

The principal cast of Euphoria has all returned for season three. That includes Zendaya as Rue Bennet, Hunter Schafer as Jules Vaughn, Maude Apatow as Lexi Howard, Sydney Sweeney as Cassie Howard, Alexa Demie as Maddy Perez, Jacob Elordi as Nate Jacobs, the late Eric Dane as Cal Jacobs, Martha Kelly as Laurie, Chloe Cherry as Faye, and Colman Domingo as Ali Muhammed.

Returning cast also includes Alanna Ubach as Suzane "Suze" Howard, Daeg Faerch as Mitch, Dominic Fike as Elliot, Melvin Bonez Estes as Bruce, Nika King as Rue's mom Leslie Bennett, Paula Marshall as Marsha Jacobs, Sophia Rose Wilson as Barbara “BB” Brookes, and Zak Steiner as Aaron Jacobs.

Courtesy of HBO

Courtesy of HBO

Plenty of new faces have joined the cast of Euphoria season three. Most notably, Sharon Stone has joined the cast in a guest role as Patricia “Patty” Lance, a top Hollywood studio executive and Lexi's boss.

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje has also joined the cast as a new character named Alamo Brown, a strip club magnate and Laurie's client who is sure to be in Rue's life a lot. Season three also features Brown's henchman, Bishop, played by The Wire and Barry alum Darrell Britt-Gibson. We have also gotten a peek at NFL player Marshawn Terrell Lynch as G, one of Brown's associates.

Courtesy of HBO

Courtesy of HBO

Courtesy of HBO

Season three also introduces Laurie's extended family, most notably Harley, played by James Landry Hébert, and Wayne, played by Toby Wallace, both of whom also work as her associates.

Eddy Chen/HBO

Eddy Chen/HBO

Richard Gere's son, Homer Gere, has also joined the cast as Dylan Reid, a famous actor managed by none other than Maddy.

Eddy Chen/HBO

Spanish star Rosalía has also joined the cast in a guest role, reportedly as one of Brown's strippers named Magick, and HBO gave us a first-look at her character in a picture you can see below. We have also gotten a look at fellow strippers played by fellow Spaniard Priscilla Delgado (who seems to have a history with Rue), Anna Van Patten, and Danielle Deadwyler.

Courtesy of HBO

Courtesy of HBO

Courtesy of HBO

Courtesy of HBO and photographed by Eddy Chen

Additional new cast members, among others, include A Different World star Kadeem Hardison, Asante Blackk as Brown's runner Kidd, Bella Podaras, Bill Bodner, Cailyn Rice, Colleen Camp, Eli Roth, Gideon Adlon as Gillie, Hemky Madera, Jack Topalian, Jessica Blair Herman as Heather, Kwame Patterson, Madison Thompson as Oceana, Matthew Willig, Natasha Lyonne, Rebecca Pidgeon as Ms. Penzler, Sam Trammell, and Trisha Paytas. (Yes, that Trisha Paytas.)

If more than one of those names rings a bell but you can't put a face to them, you can see some headshots shared by HBO by scrolling or using the arrows in the gallery below. You can also see a more detailed cast guide here.

Euphoria season three might be adding a bunch of new faces to its cast, but there are also notable absences from its roster. Leading cast member Conor Angus Cloud, who played Fezco “Fez” O'Neill, died on July 31, 2023, at age 25 from an accidental overdose. His Euphoria castmates and other public figures across the entertainment industry shared heartfelt tributes for Cloud following his passing.

“Words are not enough to describe the infinite beauty that is Angus (Conor)," Zendaya wrote in a heartbreaking post to social media. "I’m so grateful I got the chance to know him in this life, to call him a brother, to see his warm kind eyes and bright smile, or hear his infectious cackle of a laugh (I’m smiling now just thinking of it) I know people use this expression often when talking about folks they love… ‘they could light up any room they entered’ but boy let me tell you, he was the best at it.”

“I’d like to remember him that way," she continued. "For all of the boundless light, love, and joy he always managed to give us. I’ll cherish every moment. My heart is with his mother and family at this time, and please be kind and patient as grief looks different for everyone.”

Another cast member who exited the show was Storm Reid. Reid played Gia, the younger sister of Zendaya's Rue, during the first two seasons of the hit show, but will sadly not be around for season three, the actor herself confirmed, while speaking to Rotten Tomatoes at the Governors Awards on November 17, 2024.

Photograph by Eddy Chen/HBO

“I’m very excited for season three, [but] unfortunately, Gia’s not returning to the third season,” she admitted. “I am so, so indebted to the cast and the crew of that show, to HBO,” she continued. "Euphoria’s a really special thing, and I’m so glad that that’s a part of my legacy and that I was a part of such a cultural phenomenon. I'm forever grateful, forever indebted. I can’t wait to see what season three has in store.”

Similarly, in August 2022, actor Barbie Ferreira announced on Instagram that she would be leaving the cast ahead of season three.

Courtesy of HBO

“After four years of getting to embody the most special and enigmatic character kat, I’m having to say a very teary-eyed goodbye," Ferreira wrote in her exit post. "I hope many of you could see yourself in her like I did and that she brought you joy to see her journey into the character she is today. I put all my care and love into her and I hope you guys could feel it. Love you Katherine Hernandez🐱❤️."

Discourse around Kat Hernandez was at an all-time high during season two, with many speculating about behind-the-scenes drama and the standing of the actor's relationship with Levinson. Regardless, Barbie's game-changing character Kat was one of TV's very best—and it is heartbreaking to have to say goodbye.

Courtesy of HBO

Back in 2022, Walton spoke to Entertainment Weekly, teasing a potential comeback for his character. “Well, you see [Fez] get arrested, so I'm sure he is going to be in the back of a cop car. And with Ashtray, we're not 100 percent if he's dead, because you saw absolutely no blood, right? And you didn't see him fall. You did hear the bullet, but you didn't see him get shot. So, there [are] little things that could potentially bring him back for another season.”

Although the actor has not been announced as part of the cast, his death remains open-ended, and HBO could be saving some aces up its sleeve. Who knows? Maybe season three will give us that Tom Holland cameo after all.

Courtesy of HBO

There are indeed. HBO confirmed Euphoria season three had officially begun production on February 10, 2025, sharing a first-look image at Zendaya back in character as Rue, which you can see above. Since then, HBO has put out many more photos from episodes one, two, and beyond, which you can see sprinkled through this article and by scrolling horizontally in the gallery below:

Patrick Wymore/HBO

While HBO is not officially referring to season three as Euphoria's final season, it is widely expected to be the show's last installment. Appearing on The Drew Barrymore Show ahead of the season premiere, Zendaya was asked if season three would be the final one, and she did not hesitate. “I think so,” the star confirmed, adding that "closure is coming." According to Variety, Sam Levinson has also admitted he has "no plans" for a fourth season.

Dave Benett/Getty Images

Euphoria has long been praised for its use of music, but season three is doing things a little differently. Back in July 2025, HBO announced that Oscar-winning Hans Zimmer had joined Euphoria season three as a composer working on the score for some episodes.

“It’s an honor to join this incredible team of storytellers led by the visionary Sam Levinson,” Zimmer said in a statement. “Together, they have crafted such a bold and moving series that has meant so much to audiences. Labrinth’s music has shaped the show’s identity, and I’m looking forward to contributing to the ongoing story and helping shape this new season through music.”

Musician Labrinth, who was in charge of the show's score for the first two seasons, was then also slated to return to work alongside Zimmer, whom he called “one of my heroes in film score.”

“It’s a true honor to be working alongside Hans. I wrote this season to the score of Interstellar and True Romance. So he’s been ingrained in the creative DNA since the beginning,” Sam Levinson said. “I’m really proud of the work Labrinth and I have done in previous seasons and am excited for Hans to push us to new heights.”

However, ahead of the season three premiere, in March 2026, Labrinth took to Instagram to seemingly announce his exit from the show. In a since-deleted post, he wrote: “I’m done with this industry. F*ck Columbia. Double f*ck Euphoria. I’m out. Thank you and good night x.”

It was then still unclear whether his contributions would still be used in the season, but ahead of his Coachella 2026 set, Labrinth confirmed his contributions had been scrapped from the season three score.

The musician took to his Instagram stories to announce he had decided to remove the music himself. “People will comfortably lie in this industry and still call themselves honest people. So no cap, I decided to remove whatever music I had in it," he wrote. “I spoke to HBO, as far as I know, we are cool. I left because, last truth, when I work for someone, their vision is paramount to me, but I don’t let people treat me like sh*t.” It's unclear whether Labrinth was referring to Zimmer or Levinson in his post.

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Eddy Chen/HBO

Ok, so, we know that after literal years of setbacks, Euphoria season three is here—but why was it delayed in the first place? Euphoria was one of many highly anticipated series affected by the Hollywood strikes, and it faced additional obstacles, including rewrites, cast availability issues, and even tragedy. The series' production timeline has been a true point of contention over the past few years, with answers changing depending on who you asked and when. Here's a rough timeline:

“I honestly don't know," she said at the time. “There [are] some executives that know better than me, you might wanna ask them. I'm gonna be busy for a while.” While season three of Euphoria was up in the air, the actor added three films to her roster: Dune: Part Two, Luca Guadagnino's steamy tennis drama Challengers, and A24's in-development Ronnie Spector biopic Be My Baby. (The former two films were also delayed because of the Hollywood strikes.)

In May 2023, mid-strikes, EVP of HBO Programming Francesca Orsi spoke to Deadline and shared updates about the production progress of key HBO titles. “Euphoria is one of those that we had begun writing in tandem with post-production on The Idol, but at this point, we don’t have countless scripts,” Orsi said. “We can’t start shooting, so the delivery of that show— ideally in 2025—will be determined on when we can pick back up with Sam [Levinson], who at this point is all pencils down and just finishing posts on Idol.”

Since the end of the WGA and SAG strikes in fall 2023, all pencils were back up—or so we thought. In January 2024, HBO chairman and CEO Casey Bloys told The Wrap that Levinson was hard at work writing the third season. However, Bloys was unable to share further details about the show's future.

“We'll see how it goes. He’s writing season three right now; he’s in the thick of it," said Bloys. "So I don’t know that he is laying out what the future looks like. It’s just getting season three done. I haven’t had a specific conversation with him about is this the end or what does it look like.”

Speaking to GQ in February 2024, Colman Domingo (who plays Rue's sponsor, Ali), provided a bit more context about the season three delays, admitting that while strikes have played a part, it's also creator Sam Levinson's own doing, as he has a penchant for rewriting. “[Sam is] a person who writes and rewrites and writes and rewrites again, because I think he's wrestling with what's important,” Domingo told the publication.

“He's responding immediately to what the ills of the world are," Domingo continued. "I know that the one thing I can tell you is that he's very much interested in the existential question of who we are right now. Our souls. That's what he wants to figure out with season three.” A big task if you ask us, but hey, we're more than ready to be surprised.

In March 2024, main cast member Sydney Sweeney was promoting her two new films Madame Web and Immaculate when asked by MTV if she was planning to take a break after her hectic press run. Her answer: “I go into Euphoria.”

“I always feel like I go home when I go back to it,” Sweeney said about returning to the Euphoria set, “I'm excited. It's like family.” While Sweeney did not share a specific timeline, everyone assumed that the transition into the HBO show would happen mere weeks later. However, the show's indefinite hiatus was announced shortly after Sweeney's comments.

On March 25, 2024, Variety reported that season three was indefinitely delayed and that scripts for the next installment were still being written. “HBO and Sam Levinson remain committed to making an exceptional third season,” an HBO spokesperson told the publication.

The spokesperson also nodded to the extremely busy schedules of the show's stars, many of whom are attached to major film projects. “In the interim, we are allowing our in-demand cast to pursue other opportunities.” Nearly four months later, the start date for season three of Euphoria was finally confirmed.

We will keep updating this story as news about Euphoria season 3 breaks.