Honestly, it feels like a lifetime since we last saw Rue standing under those streetlights. We've been waiting for what feels like forever. The question of when is the next season of euphoria come out has basically become a meme at this point. If you’re looking for a quick date to circle on your calendar, I’ve got some bad news: you’re going to need a very large calendar that stretches well into next year.
HBO has finally confirmed that production is set to begin in January 2025.
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That’s a huge relief because for a while there, it looked like the show might just vanish into the ether of "creative differences" and scheduling nightmares. Since filming takes roughly six to seven months, and post-production for a show this visually intense usually takes just as long, we are looking at a late 2025 or even early 2026 release window. It's a long wait. Too long, maybe. But there’s a lot going on behind the scenes that explains the delay, from tragic real-life losses to the meteoric rise of the show’s massive stars.
The Messy Reality of When is the Next Season of Euphoria Come Out
Why the hold-up? It’s complicated.
First, let's talk about the cast. When Euphoria first dropped, Zendaya was already a star, but now? She’s a global icon leading massive franchises like Dune and Spider-Man. Then you have Sydney Sweeney, who seems to be in every movie released in the last two years, and Jacob Elordi, who has become the internet's favorite leading man. Getting all these people in the same room at the same time is a logistical Rubik's cube. Casey Bloys, the Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, has been pretty transparent about the challenges of coordinating these A-list schedules.
Then there was the dual strike in Hollywood. The WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes put a total freeze on scripts and filming for most of 2023. Sam Levinson, the show’s creator and sole writer, wasn't working on the scripts during that time.
But even beyond the strikes, there’s a deeper, sadder reason for the pause. The passing of Angus Cloud, who played the beloved Fezco, was a massive blow to the cast and the story. Fez was the heart of the show in many ways. His absence means the entire narrative trajectory of Season 3 had to be reimagined. On top of that, the show lost its celebrated executive producer Kevin Turen suddenly in late 2023. That kind of loss slows things down. It makes people stop and rethink what they’re doing and why they’re doing it.
The Time Jump: A Necessary Reset
Here is where things get interesting. Sam Levinson has hinted—and the cast has basically confirmed—that we aren't going back to East Highland High.
They’re growing up.
Colman Domingo, who plays Ali, has mentioned in interviews that Levinson wants to explore what these characters look like outside the bubble of high school. We are expecting a five-year time jump. This makes total sense. Have you looked at the cast lately? They don't look like teenagers anymore. Trying to squeeze Jacob Elordi back into a high school locker room would feel a bit "How do you do, fellow kids?" at this point.
The time jump allows the show to tackle "adult" problems without the constraints of a school bell. It also gives the show a chance to reinvent its visual language. Will it still have the glitter and the neon? Probably. But maybe it’ll be a bit more grounded, reflecting the harsh reality of your early twenties rather than the fever dream of being seventeen.
Production Updates and What We Actually Know
If you’re hunting for concrete details about when is the next season of euphoria come out, keep your eyes on January 2025. That is the "go" signal. HBO’s Francesca Orsi has noted that the scripts are being polished to ensure they meet the sky-high expectations of the fanbase.
- Filming Location: Largely expected to stay in Los Angeles, though rumors of international shoots often swirl around this show.
- Episode Count: Likely eight episodes, following the trend of the previous seasons.
- The Cast Status: Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, Alexa Demie, and Maude Apatow are all expected to return.
- Who's Out: We know Barbie Ferreira (Kat) won't be back. She made it pretty clear on social media and in podcasts that her journey with the character had reached a natural—and somewhat frustrated—end.
There’s also the question of the "vibe." Season 2 was much darker and more claustrophobic than Season 1. It focused heavily on Rue's harrowing descent into addiction. Season 3 is rumored to be styled more like a "film noir," according to some of Levinson’s early comments. He wants to explore what it means to be an individual with principles in a corrupt world. Sounds heavy. But then again, when has Euphoria ever been light?
Addressing the Controversy and "The Idol" Fallout
We can't talk about the delay without mentioning The Idol. Sam Levinson spent a huge chunk of time on that polarizing HBO series starring The Weeknd. It didn't go well. The critical panning and the behind-the-scenes drama of that show definitely impacted the timeline for Euphoria. There was a lot of chatter that Levinson had lost his "Midas touch," and HBO reportedly wanted him to take his time to make sure Euphoria didn't suffer the same fate.
The stakes are massive. Euphoria is HBO’s second most-watched show ever, trailing only Game of Thrones. They cannot afford a flop. That pressure is likely why the scripts have gone through multiple iterations. They need to get Rue’s story right.
What to Expect from Rue and Jules
The central gravity of the show has always been the "Rules" (Rue and Jules) relationship. When we last saw them, Rue was sober (for now) and Jules was... well, Jules. The finale of Season 2 left them in a weird, silent place.
If the time jump happens, we might find them as completely different people. Maybe Rue has found a way to manage her sobriety in the "real world." Maybe Jules has moved on to the art scene in New York. The tension of their reunion—if it happens—will be the engine that drives the new season. Zendaya has expressed interest in seeing Rue's "sober journey" and how she navigates the complexities of adulthood. It’s a story worth telling, even if it takes another eighteen months to get here.
Acknowledging the Limitations of the Release Window
Look, I want to be honest. Release dates in the streaming era are like shifting sand. While January 2025 is the production start date, anything could happen. A lead actor could have a scheduling conflict with a movie, or a specific scene could require weeks of reshoots.
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But based on how HBO operates, they usually like their prestige dramas to anchor a specific quarter. A late 2025 release would make Euphoria the definitive TV event of the year. It gives them enough time to build a massive marketing campaign—the kind involving makeup collaborations, fashion week tie-ins, and viral trailers that we’ve come to expect.
What You Can Do While You Wait
Waiting for when is the next season of euphoria come out is a test of patience. If you're looking to fill that glitter-shaped hole in your heart, there are a few things you can do to stay prepped.
First, go back and watch the two special episodes: "Trouble Don't Last Always" and "F*** Anyone Who's Not a Sea Blob." A lot of people skipped these because they were smaller, pandemic-era "bridge" episodes, but they contain the best writing in the entire series. They are deep, character-focused dialogues that actually tell you more about Rue and Jules than the chaotic Season 2 finale did.
Second, keep an eye on the cast’s other projects. Watching Hunter Schafer in Cuckoo or Jacob Elordi in Saltburn (if you haven't already) gives you a sense of how they are evolving as actors. When they return to their Euphoria roles, they’re going to bring all that new range with them.
Lastly, stay tuned for the official teaser. HBO loves a "Coming Soon" sizzle reel at the end of the year. We will likely get our first few seconds of footage in December 2024 or early 2025. That’s when the hype train really starts moving. Until then, we’re all just Rue on her bike, coasting and waiting for the next turn in the road.
Final Takeaway for Fans
The wait is frustrating, but it’s happening. The cameras will roll in early 2025. The core cast is coming back. The story is moving forward in time. While we don't have a specific Tuesday night to mark yet, the path to Season 3 is finally clear. Keep your expectations high, but your patience higher.
To stay ahead of the curve, follow the official HBO Max social accounts and set alerts for "Euphoria Season 3 Production." Often, the first glimpses of the new season come from "leaked" set photos in Los Angeles rather than official press releases. Staying connected to the fan community on platforms like Reddit or TikTok can also provide early clues about the plot as filming begins. If you’re a superfan, now is the time to re-watch the first two seasons to catch the subtle foreshadowing that Sam Levinson often weaves into his scripts—details that might become major plot points after the five-year jump.