Everything was completely different when “Euphoria” premiered in 2019.
Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi had been newcomers to the scene, there was buzz about Zendaya taking on such a gritty function following her look in Marvel’s family-friendly “Spider-Man” franchise, and beloved sequence regulars Eric Dane and Angus Cloud had been nonetheless with us. People had been additionally making an attempt to make sense of the truth that rapper Drake was credited as one of many present’s govt producers.
The critically acclaimed first season’s daring, unnerving illustration of troubled highschool teenagers felt resonant and pressing, going on to win 9 Primetime Emmys over the course of its two seasons, together with two gongs for Zendaya’s searing flip as central character Rue Bennett.
But it’s been over 4 years because the second season of “Euphoria” and, effectively, lots has occurred.
For starters, since 2022, “Euphoria” has been tormented by reviews of chaos on set, a few of it spurred by delays following the twin writers and actors’ strikes of 2023, and a few of it reportedly on account of rewrites and creative differences.
Now, following the sequence’ long-awaited return Sunday, the third and suspected last season of the Sam Levinson-created present is rising right into a drastically completely different world, each when it comes to the story being informed on screen and the era of stars the present helped launch off screen.
It all begs the query: has an excessive amount of time handed?
“Euphoria” — no less than at its outset — adopted a bunch of childhood buddies who grapple with love, dependancy and trauma by way of their highschool years. Season 3, nevertheless, picks up 5 years since we final noticed Rue, Nate and Cassie (performed by Zendaya, Elordi and Sweeney, respectively), now firmly out of their teenage years as they wrestle with religion and redemption, in accordance with an official synopsis. The present additionally stars Colman Domingo, Alexa Demie, Hunter Schafer and Maude Apatow.
As the creators hashed out how Season 3 would wrap up everybody’s story, the present’s breakout stars, significantly Sweeney and Elordi, noticed meteoric rises in fame, with Zendaya persevering with to ascend as effectively.
Elordi returns this season as a newly minted Oscar nominee, incomes recognition from Hollywood’s most prestigious voting physique for his efficiency in Guillermo Del Toro’s “Frankenstein” final 12 months, and Sweeney has develop into a mainstream star following buzzy roles together with “White Lotus,” “Anyone But You” and final December’s “The Housemaid,” which can quickly spawn a sequel. Sweeney additionally discovered herself on the center of several conversations when she appeared in a controversial denims advert final 12 months.
As for Zendaya, exterior of starring in MCU motion pictures and the Oscar-winning “Dune” franchise, the previous Disney performer has develop into a dominating, bankable Hollywood film star, this 12 months hooked up to “The Odyssey” and the third and last “Dune” installment, after she returns to Marvel in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” this summer season. And that’s to not point out her movie reverse Robert Pattinson, “The Drama,” in theaters now.
On high of that, “Euphoria” Season 3 is altering the vibe with a brand new sound. Prolific Hollywood movie composer Hans Zimmer is credited for the season premiere episode’s music as a substitute of British artist Labrinth, who wrote the music for the primary two seasons and was broadly credited with giving the present a melodically distinctive identification.
“Euphoria” has additionally endured some heartbreaking losses since final season.
Cloud, who performed lovable and earnest drug seller Fezco within the present’s first two seasons, died at age 25 in 2023 on account of an unintended overdose. And Dane, who portrayed Nate’s repressed dad Cal Jacobs, died in February following a battle with ALS, after filming scenes for the present’s last season.
Despite Cloud’s real-life loss of life, Fezco is alive in Season 3, with Zendaya’s Rue and Apatow’s Lexi brazenly discussing him being in jail within the first episode.
This was an intentional alternative, in accordance with Levinson, who mentioned in an announcement shared with NCS that this season grew to become his means “to honor Angus and all the kids who weren’t offered a second chance.”
Euphoria airs Sunday on HBO and streams on HBO Max, which, like NCS, is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery.