'Euphoria' Season 3 delayed, HBO says cast can 'pursue other opportunities': Reports
Fans of one of HBO's biggest shows are feeling less than euphoric this week.
In a statement provided to USA TODAY, HBO said it's permitting the cast of "Euphoria" to pursue other acting jobs amid the long wait for Season 3, implying filming is not imminent after all.
"HBO and (creator) Sam Levinson remain committed to making an exceptional third season," a spokesperson for the network said. "In the interim, we are allowing our in-demand cast to pursue other opportunities."
The statement suggested there has been a delay in plans to roll cameras, as star Sydney Sweeney said in an interview with GQ published in March that she would begin filming Season 3 within the next two months.
"People will be really amazed with what season three becomes," she told GQ. Sweeney also indicated in a March interview with MTV that "Euphoria" is the next project she will work on.
But according to The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline, filming is on hold because creator Sam Levinson is still working on the scripts for Season 3.
"Euphoria," which centers on a group of troubled high school students and also stars Zendaya and Hunter Schafer, last aired a new episode in February 2022. HBO has said Season 3 is targeting a 2025 release.
When does 'Euphoria' Season 3 come out?Sydney Sweeney says filming begins soon
In a February interview with GQ, "Euphoria" star Colman Domingo said Season 3 was taking so long because Levinson is "a person who writes and rewrites and writes and rewrites again, because I think he's wrestling with what's important." Levinson premiered a different show, "The Idol," on HBO last year.
'Euphoria'star says comment about struggling with bills after Season 3 delays was a 'joke'
Zendaya and Sweeney are also among the busiest young actors working in Hollywood today. The former has key roles in the "Spider-Man" and "Dune" franchises, while the latter has starred in three films released since December alone: "Anyone But You," "Madame Web" and "Immaculate." Angus Cloud, who played Fezco on "Euphoria," died in July.
Earlier this month, Nika King, who plays the mother of Zendaya's character on "Euphoria," joked about how anxious she was for the show to return in a stand-up set. "Don't ask me (when Season 3 is coming out)," she said. "I don't know. It's one of those things. People are like, 'We need Season 3.' I'm like, (expletive), I need Season 3! I haven't paid my rent in six months." She also quipped that she wanted Zendaya to "come home" after seeing her at Paris Fashion Week.
King later said this was a "lighthearted joke" and that she actually has "a few film projects releasing this year that I’m excited about."