Yesterday, “Euphoria” fans received bad news. Following reports that season three of the hit HBO series was scrapped, spokespeople for the cable channel nearly admitted as much, reaffirmed their commitment to making it, but conceded the show was being delayed again. Now, an update from The Wrap reveals that the show’s creator, Sam Levinson, is being tasked with rewriting the series and removing the high school elements of the show.
THR also expands on the behind-the-scenes drama with details, revealing there will be a “time jump,” and the next season will take place after the show’s young characters exit high school.
The changes are likely to reflect the cast’s actual ages, as most of them are between 25 and 27, and convincingly, playing high school students is becoming a stretch. Also, you have to imagine that the much-in-demand cast of Zendaya (“Challengers,” “Dune: Part Two”), Hunter Schafer (“Cuckoo”), Sydney Sweeney (“Barbarella”), and Jacob Elordi (“Saltburn,” “Frankenstein”) themselves likely wouldn’t want to continue to play high schoolers as most of them have taken on more adult roles.
This update arrives after Levinson’s other show, “The Idol,” starring Lily-Rose Depp and Abel Tesfaye (better known as the Canadian musician The Weeknd), was criticized for exploitative sexual elements and ultimately canceled after a single season. The show already featured risque elements, but transitioning the characters to adulthood will at least keep the criticisms of exploitation at bay.
The Wrap says HBO has agreed to give Levinson more time to write this new transition to adulthood. Euphoria” last aired in early 2022 and was initially expected in 2025. However, yesterday’s reports said HBO had agreed to let the cast explore other job opportunities, meaning even if the scripts are ready in time, a 2025 release is looking increasingly unlikely if the cast is busy with other roles. Given how popular the main cast has become, scheduling will also be a hurdle, so don’t be surprised if the series returns in 2026, four years after season two.