‘Euphoria’ returns with time leap and new faces

The first trailer for “Euphoria” Season 3 is out, setting the tone for a darker, older chapter of HBO’s hit drama ahead of its April 12 premiere on HBO and HBO Max.

Most of the core cast is back. Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi, Eric Dane, Alexa Demie, Maude Apatow, Martha Kelly, Chloe Cherry, Colman Domingo and Dominic Fike all return. Several familiar faces, however, will not. Barbie Ferreira, Storm Reid, Javon Walton and Austin Abrams are absent this season. Angus Cloud, who became a fan favourite as Fezco, died in July 2023 at the age of 25.

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Season 2 closed on chaos and confession. Lexi’s (Apatow) school play exposed the private lives of her friends. Nate (Elordi) handed over his father Cal (Dane) to the police after discovering a flash drive containing his illegal sexual encounters. Jules (Schafer) and Rue (Zendaya) appeared to reconnect, with Rue trying to stay sober.

Season 3 moves far beyond high school. The story jumps five years forward, following the characters as adults dealing with the long shadows of their teenage choices.

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The trailer reveals major shifts. Cassie and Nate are now married, living a suburban life that looks calm but feels uneasy. Rue is in Mexico, trying to pay off a debt to drug dealer Laurie. Series creator Sam Levinson has said Jules is in art school, while Maddy is working at a Hollywood talent agency.

Season 3 also brings an unusually large group of new cast members. Joining the show are Sharon Stone, Rosalía, Trisha Paytas, Natasha Lyonne, Danielle Deadwyler, Eli Roth and Marshawn Lynch.

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They are joined by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Toby Wallace, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Kadeem Hardison, Priscilla Delgado, James Landry Hébert, Anna Van Patten, Asante Blackk, Bella Podaras, Bill Bodner, Cailyn Rice, Colleen Camp, Gideon Adlon, Hemky Madera, Homer Gere, Jack Topalian, Jessica Blair Herman, Kwame Patterson, Madison Thompson, Matthew Willig, Rebecca Pidgeon and Sam Trammell.

The scale of the new cast suggests a wider world, with new power structures, temptations and dangers entering the lives of the original characters.

The trailer hints at several major arcs. Rue is shown navigating criminal networks as she tries to settle her debt. Cassie appears to be chasing attention in risky ways. Old relationships are tested by adult responsibilities, while new alliances form in unstable spaces.

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Levinson has said he wanted to explore what happens after the drama of youth fades and real life begins. Season 3 appears to be about consequence—what people carry, what they hide, and what finally breaks them.

“Euphoria” has always divided viewers with its raw style and heavy themes, but it has also shaped pop culture, fashion and youth storytelling on television. With its five-year leap, the series is now betting that its audience is ready to grow up with it.

The question Season 3 asks is simple but sharp: when the party ends, who are you left with?