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.
Familiar faces we’ll see again
The majority of the major cast from seasons one and two are returning for Euphoria season three:
- Zendaya (Rue)
- Hunter Schafer (Jules)
- Jacob Elordi (Nate Jacobs)
- Alexa Demie (Maddy)
- Sydney Sweeney (Cassie)
- Maude Apatow (Lexi)
- Colman Domingo (Ali)
- Chloe Cherry (Faye). Cherry told Collider last month: "I can’t say anything about it other than I am indeed in Season 3."
- Alanna Ubach (Suzane)
- Dominic Fike (Elliot)
- Eric Dane (Cal Jacobs)
- Martha Kelly (Laurie)
- Daeg Faerch (Mitch)
- Melvin Bonez Estes (Bruce)
- Nika King (Leslie Bennett)
- Paula Marshall (Marsha Jacobs)
- Sophia Rose Wilson (Barbara “BB” Brookes)
- Zak Steiner (Aaron Jacobs)
Cast not returning
- Barbie Ferreira (Kat): 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.
- Angus Cloud (Fezco): 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.
- Storm Reid (Gia) : 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.
- Javon "Wanna" Walton (Ashtray): 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.
- Algee Smith (McKay): 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.
- Austin Abrams (Ethan): Abrams, who portrayed Ethan, Kat’s ex-boyfriend, will not be returning for Season 3.
New arrivals in the cast
HBO has cast several new players for season 3, with an official list of newcomers dropping last week:
- Natasha Lyonne (of Russian Doll and Poker Face)
- Sharon Stone (Basic Instinct, Casino): you might 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.
- Rosalía (in her major acting debut)
- Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Oz, Lost, The Mummy Returns)
- Toby Wallace (The Bikeriders, The Society)
- Marshawn Lynch (NFL player)
- Darrell Britt-Gibson (The Wire)
- Kadeem Hardison (A Different World)
- Priscilla Delgado (Los hombres de Paco)
- James Landry Hébert (Ghost House)
- Anna Van Patten (Bussed, Master)
- Eli Roth (horror director)
- Danielle Deadwyler (Tilll)
- Sam Trammell (True Blood)
- Trisha Paytas (YouTuber)
- Bella Podaras (Ashley Garcia: Genius in Love)
- Bill Bodner (Killer Psyche)
- Cailyn Rice (1923)
- Colleen Camp (Clue)
- Gideon Adlon (Sick)
- Hemky Madera (Spider-Man: Homecoming)
- Homer Gere (August)
- 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).
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's third season is slated for release in spring 2026 (that's autumn 2026 for southern hemisphere). There are eight episodes confirmed, and the series will be streaming via HBO Max.
If last season was anything to go by, we'll be getting episodes weekly on Mondays again.
