Almost three years after the second season’s release, HBO Max’s hit TV show “Euphoria” has returned for production of its third, allegedly final, season. The announcement was made via the official “Euphoria” Instagram account on Feb. 10, 2025, through a still image of Zendaya, who plays Rue Bennett.
While fans are excited to see the return of this show, the journey it took to get to where it is now has been marked with delays, tragedies and changes within the show’s central cast.
One setback for “Euphoria” was that it was one of several TV shows and movies affected by two Hollywood labor strikes, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). These strikes further delayed the production process.
Another blow to “Euphoria” that pushed its production and release back further was the ambition of the show’s creator, Sam Levinson, who focused on premiering another show for HBO Max, “The Idol.” The show was disliked by critics and canceled by HBO Max 28 days after its release, after only five episodes of its actual six-episode run.
Two off-screen tragedies also halted the production of “Euphoria.” Actor Angus Cloud, known for playing the beloved Fezco, passed away in July of 2023 from an accidental overdose. “Euphoria” also lost a member of the production team when Executive Producer Kevin Turen passed away in Nov. 2023 from heart failure. Both Turen and Cloud’s deaths significantly impacted the cast and crew behind “Euphoria.” Following Turen’s passing, several people who had worked on previous projects with Turen posted on social media to mourn his passing. Cloud’s passing profoundly impacted both the people who worked on the show and its viewers. Following his passing, messages and memories of Cloud flooded social media and the press.
The people Cloud most frequently acted alongside on-screen were most hardly hit by his passing, with cast members such as Zendaya fondly recounting the way he radiated positive energy.

In a statement on Instagram accompanied by a black and white photo of Cloud laughing, Zendaya said, “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. For all of the boundless light, love and joy he always managed to give us. I’ll cherish every moment.”
Along with dealing with the death of one actor, several actors from the first two seasons of “Euphoria” have announced that they will not be returning to the show, such as Barbie Ferreira, who played Kat Hernandez, Nika King who played Rue’s mother Leslie and Storm Reid, who played Rue’s sister Gia.
The third season allegedly is a five-year time-jump into the future, revealing the lives of characters such as Rue, Maddy and other beloved characters from the show. However, it is unknown how the show will tackle writing out Fezco’s character, as well as Rue’s mother and sister, or if the show will pick up where the end of the second season left off.