TV

‘Euphoria’ creator Sam Levinson having ‘issues’ with Season 3, HBO CEO says: ‘A lot of back and forth’

The wait for “Euphoria” Season 3 never ends.

HBO CEO Casey Bloys gave an update to Variety Tuesday on the next season of the Emmy Award-winning drama series, which has been delayed numerous times and hasn’t started filming yet.

“Sam is working on it,” Bloys said, referring to “Euphoria” creator and executive producer Sam Levinson.

Zendaya in a scene from HBO’s “Euphoria.”
Sam Levinson, the creator of “Euphoria” FilmMagic for HBO

“There’s been a lot of back and forth,” he added. “One of the issues I think that Sam is thinking about is that he doesn’t want to have it in high school anymore. That’s where it was set and what made sense then.”

Bloys continued: “So when you take it out of that, there’s a lot of back and forth about where to set it and how far in the future to set it and all that stuff. But I think he’s got a take that he’s excited about, and he’s busy writing.”

“Euphoria” stars Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, Barbie Ferreira, Maude Apatow and Zendaya. Eddy Chen/HBO

The TV exec was also asked if the “main cast” will return for Season 3, or if he’d prefer the show move forward with new stars.

“It’s the same core cast,” Bloys said.

Sam Levinson with the “Euphoria” Season 2 cast in January 2022 Getty Images for HBO

“Euphoria” premiered on HBO in 2019 and stars Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, Eric Dane, Maude Apatow, Storm Reid and Colman Domingo.

The Season 2 finale aired in February 2022.

In March 2024, HBO announced that Season 3 filming was temporarily put on hold.

“HBO and Sam Levinson remain committed to making an exceptional third season,” the network said at the time in a statement to Variety. “In the interim, we are allowing our in-demand cast to pursue other opportunities.”

Zendaya in “Euphoria” AP

Production on Season 3 was delayed due to the double-whammy Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists strikes in Hollywood and the July 2023 death of co-star Angus Cloud, who played drug dealer Fezco.

Cloud was 25 and his death was ruled an accidental overdose due to a combination of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, benzodiazepine and other drugs.

Angus Cloud and Zendaya Euphoria/Instagram
Hunter Schafer (from left), Sam Levinson, Angus Cloud and Zendaya Getty Images for HBO

Zendaya, who is also an executive producer on “Euphoria,” admitted in April that she doesn’t know when the show is coming back.

“If it’s right for the characters and everything turns out the way it should, of course,” she said, adding that she’s “not in charge” of whether the show will return.

“But it’s beyond me,” the “Challengers” star said.

Sam Levinson and Zendaya Getty Images for HBO

Schafer, who plays Jules Vaughn, expressed optimism that the series will eventually return.

“I just really miss everybody. Everyone is doing very well in their careers right now,” Schafer told Variety in April. “Everyone’s kind of blown up, and so with that comes people traveling a lot.”

“Whatever happens, I’m just excited to get back together once it’s time and catch up and hang out.”