The chaos, glitter, and heartbreak of Euphoria are finally returning. HBO’s hit series heads into its third chapter, and while Zendaya’s Rue remains the messy heart of the story, season 3 promises darker twists, new dynamics, and even a few fresh faces on the block.
Here’s everything you need to know about who’s back, who’s leaving, and who’s stepping into the spotlight.
Returning cast back for season 3
The majority of the major cast from seasons one and two are returning for Euphoria season three:
Rue
Rue is back (obviously), in Mexico, and still evading paying back that damn briefcase full of cash. If the season 3 trailer is anything to go by, it looks like after high school, she's finally clean, but on the run.
Jules
According to what we know so far, Jules is attending art (or fashion) school and making money as a sugar baby. In the trailer, she appears to be living in New York in a lavish penthouse.
Nate
Nate is living in the suburbs with Cassie, to whom he is now engaged. During a conversation on Entertainment Weekly's The Awardist podcast, Elordi said Nate's primary focus in season 3 is "to survive" and that his character's arc will involve "the end of hubris" and "the end of arrogance".
Maddy
According to what we know so far, Maddy has moved to Hollywood and works at a talent agency.
Cassie
Cassie Howard has never, ever been happier now that she's engaged to Nate Jacobs, living large in the suburbs, and apparently... working on OnlyFans.
Lexi
Lexi Howard is navigating adulthood in Hollywood as an assistant to a TV show runner (played by Sharon Stone), which seems like a fairly logical step for the budding playwright.
Faye
Cherry told Collider last month: "I can’t say anything about it other than I am indeed in Season 3." But exactly when and where her character will pop is still a mystery. There's some speculation she might reunite with Rue in Mexico...
Elliot
While we do know that Dominic Fike is returning for season 3, we don't know a thing about where Elliot will be popping up.
Ali
Rue's sobriety mentor and confidant will be returning, likely in his paternal role helping Rue out of some sticky situations. We'd love to know a little more about his backstory before things wrap up.
Suze Howard
Yep, Mrs. Howard is back for season 3. We're assuming she'll look a little something like this watching Cassie walk down the aisle.
Cal Jacobs
We're not surprised we haven't seen the last of Cal Jacobs in season 2 – especially after that heartening backstory we were delivered. He did have a major crash out in the foyer that night though, so we're not sure if his relationship with Nate and co will be on any better terms (even with a five year time jump).
Laurie
Laurie has already reared her head in the trailer for Euphoria season 3, so we know for sure she's back – in all her monotone, terrifying glory. None of us are surprised she's still chasing the money she's owed though – are we?
New actors joining the cast of season 3
HBO has cast several new players for season 3, with an official list of newcomers dropping last week:
Natasha Lyonne
BBC confirmed that the Emmy-nominated American actor and director behind Netflix's Russian Doll and Poker Face, Natasha Lyonne would be joining the cast. We're not sure what she'll be doing, but we know she'll kill it.
Sharon Stone
Of Basic Instinct and Casino fame. Superfans of the show may remember that Sharon Stone's Casino character was Maddie Perez's biggest inspiration and the reason she was gifted a fur coat by Nate in S1. And now, it looks like Stone will be playing Perez's boss at an LA talent agency.
Rosalía
In her major acting debut, the singer's role has been kept under wraps – but we have had this image of her in a bedazzled neckbrace on set to gaze at for a few months now.
Vinnie Hacker
The TikTok thirst-trapper is apparently tapped for his first major TV role in season 3. Again, details are still to come about what his role is.
Trisha Paytas
YouTuber and social media darling Trisha Paytas is also making her first big acting debut in the series. And fans know, she's got range, so we're stoked. She did speak about her experience on set recently with PEOPLE Magazine though, saying "I feel like such an actress. Sam Levinson was directing, and he was super cool because I love [Levinson-directed series] The Idol, and we talked so much off-camera about that."
Danielle Deadwyler
BBC also confirmed Danielle Deadwyler's addition to the Euphoria season 3 cast. This first-look photo of her on set is pretty much all we have to go off of as of now.
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Of Oz, Lost and The Mummy Returns fame. Akinnuoye-Agbaje is reportedly playing a ruthless drug/arms dealer or kingpin involved with Rue.
Toby Wallace
While the specific character details are under wraps, the Australian actor's casting was met with excitement, though rumours of him being a love interest for Jules.
Marshawn Lynch
The NFL player is a random casting addition, but one we're excited to see develop. Nicknamed "Beast Mode", we're wondering if might just be playing himself?
Also:
- Anna Van Patten (sister to Grace, from Bussed, Master)
- Eli Roth (horror film director)
- Gideon Adlon (Sick)
- James Landry Hébert (Ghost House)
- Cailyn Rice (1923)
- Sam Trammell (True Blood)
- Kadeem Hardison (A Different World)
- Hemky Madera (Spider-Man: Homecoming)
- Colleen Camp (Clue)
- Darrell Britt-Gibson (The Wire)
- Priscilla Delgado (Los hombres de Paco)
- Homer Gere (August)
- Bella Podaras (Ashley Garcia: Genius in Love)
- Jack Topalian (True Detective)
- Jessica Blair Herman (9-1-1)
- Kwame Patterson (The Wire)
- Madison Thompson (Ozark)
- Matthew Willig (Young Rock)
- Rebecca Pidgeon (Bird Box)
- Bill Bodner (Killer Psyche)
Characters not returning for season 3
Kat
Barbie Ferreira recently explained that her exit from Euphoria was a mutual decision – she said that by the end of Season 2 “there was just nowhere to go” with her character, and she didn’t want to be stuck playing “the fat best friend,” a role that neither she nor the creators believed would serve the character or the show well.
Fezco
Angus Cloud's death in 2023 cast a shadow over the cast and uncertainty over whether his character would reappear in the show. Following the emotional season 2 finale, Fez’s fate was uncertain, but early reports confirm Cloud’s presence in flashbacks and storyline continuations that honour his character.
Gia
Storm Reid, who played Zendaya's on-screen sister, confirmed last year that she is not returning for series three. Reid revealed this was because scheduling conflicts prevented her from aligning with the production – she is completing her degree at University of Southern California and working with her production company.
Ashtray
Javon "Wanna" Walton will not be returning for Season 3 after his character Ashtray was killed during the tense shootout in the Season 2 finale. The young actor has since moved on to other projects, and his departure closes the arc of one of the show’s most unpredictable and violent characters.
McKay
Algee Smith, who played McKay, Cassie’s ex-boyfriend and a promising football player, will not be back for Season 3. His presence in Season 2 was already reduced, and reports confirmed that his storyline had run its course, leaving no plans for his return.
Ethan
Austin Abrams, who portrayed Ethan, Kat’s ex-boyfriend, will not be returning for Season 3.
Other noteworthy additions to season three
Hans Zimmer and Labrinth have officially joined the season three production team as the soundtracking / score team. Labrinth was the mastermind behind the iconic scores of seasons one and two, so we're excited to see him collaborate with a heavyweight like Zimmer on something for season three.
Donni Davey will also be returning for season three to do beauty. And thank god, who else could do those iconic looks?
What’s at stake in season 3?
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There's little that we know about the exact storyline of season three – and given the delays and cast changes, it's unlikely we'll see things pick back up from where they left off at the traumatic end of season two. What has been more-or-less confirmed is that the new series will feature a time jump that moves the show's main cast out of high school. And given the set photos we've been served while the season was filming earlier this year, this looks like it will be the case.
When will it be released?
Euphoria Season 3 premieres on Sunday 12 April 2026 (Monday 13 April 2026 in Australia). The first episode of season three will premiere on HBO Max at 1-2pm AEDT.
The third season has eight episodes, released weekly.
