Season 3 of Euphoria is expanding by bringing back Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi and more OG stars — while also bringing in newcomers including Toby Wallace, Anna Van Patten and Rosalía.

Euphoria, which premiered in 2019, originally followed troubled high school student Rue (Zendaya) as she struggled to remain sober after rehab. The hit HBO series was quickly renewed for a second season after its premiere, but it took nearly three years for the next batch of episodes to air.

Season 3 was originally set to air on HBO in 2025 before facing several obstacles, including creator Sam Levinson’s commitment to his short-lived series The Idol. The dual WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which took place in late 2023, also prolonged the delay.

Since season 2 concluded, the cast went through a loss when Angus Cloud died at age 25 in July 2023 following an accidental overdose. The show is expected to address the fate of his character, Fezco, while Eric Dane‘s Cal made an appearance in the trailer one month after the actor’s death following a battle with ALS. He was 53.

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“Some people ask why it took so long between seasons 2 and 3. There were obvious factors — the strikes, trying to make a schedule work with our very in-demand cast, but the real time was in trying to figure out how to find a way to pay respect to those who we lost,” Levinson said in a speech at the season 3 premiere in April 2026.

He continued: “When Angus died, it was tough. I loved him deeply, and I fought hard to keep him clean. The year he died, in 2023, he was one of 73,000 people in America who died of a fentanyl overdose. I learned a whole lot that year, but what I realized more than anything is that death is what gives life meaning. You can’t be arrogant about existence. You’re forced to reckon with the fact that life itself is a wonder, a gift, a profound blessing.”

Levinson also explained how the show will pay tribute on screen.

“There are a lot of scenes where people are either talking to him on the phone,” he told Variety about the decision for Fez to still be part of the story. “I thought that if I couldn’t keep him alive in life then maybe within this show that I can control and keep him alive there. I think the whole thing was to honor him and also I can’t wait for you to see the last few episodes. I think he would be cracking up at his story line. I think he would love it.”

Scroll down to see who is in the Euphoria season 3 cast:

Zendaya

It wouldn’t be Euphoria without Zendaya, who is back on the show.

Hunter Schafer

Hunter Schafer has not yet appeared on screen in season 3 but will be back.

Maude Apatow

Maude Apatow also returned in the season 3 premiere of Euphoria.

Eric Dane

Before his death, Eric Dane filmed scenes for Euphoria’s third season.

Alexa Demie

Alexa Demie is back on Euphoria as well.

Jacob Elordi

Jacob Elordi is back on the hit HBO series.

Sydney Sweeney

Sydney Sweeney reprised her role as Cassie in season 3.

Colman Domingo

Based on the season 3 premiere, Colman Domingo is back in a larger capacity in season 3.

'Euphoria' Cast: See the HBO Show's Stars Then and Now

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje

Season 3 introduced Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje in a key role during the premiere.

Martha Kelly

Rue’s biggest challenge in season 3 has been the return of Laurie, who is played by Martha Kelly.

Chloe Cherry

Chloe Cherry returned as Faye in season 3 of the hit HBO series.

Toby Wallace

The season 3 premiere introduced Toby Wallace as Faye’s love interest and drug dealer Wayne.

Jessica Treska

Jessica Treska had a scene-stealing role in the season 3 premiere of Euphoria.

Anna Van Patten

Grace Van Patten’s sister has a role in season 3.

Sydney Sweeney‘s risqué character Cassie defended her sex work on Euphoria after several graphic scenes.

During the Sunday, May 17, episode of the hit HBO show, Cassie got her big break on a movie set but it didn’t take long for her job on OnlyFans to come up. Lexi (Maude Apatow) specifically threw shade at her sister for filming herself topless, engaged in sexual situations and even getting paid extra for “jerk off instructions.”

“I am not a sex worker,” Cassie said before clarifying her job, “I’m a performer. That uses my body to tell stories.”

Cassie was ultimately able to book the role, which evolved into a larger opportunity. But that meant deleting her OnlyFans account — and that wasn’t as easy for Cassie. She tried to get advice from husband Nate (Jacob Elordi) but he was too busy trying to come up with the money to pay off his debt. It didn’t work and Cassie received Nate’s finger in the mail.

Sydney Sweeney's Candid Quotes About Filming Nude Scenes for 'Euphoria'

Cassie’s arc in season 3 has received criticism after some OnlyFans creators weren’t thrilled with how their line of work was portrayed on screen. Creator Sam Levinson, however, defended the decision to push boundaries.

“[Cassie] has got her dog house and her little dog ears and the nose, and that has its own humor,” Levinson explained to The Hollywood Reporter in April. “But what makes the scene is the fact that her housekeeper is the one filming it.”

He continued: “What we wanted to always find is the other layer of absurdity that we’re able to tie into it so that we’re not too inside of her fantasy or illusion. The gag is to jump out, to break the wall.”

Levinson broke down how he and director of photography Marcell Rév brought the scenes to life.

'Euphoria' Cast: See the HBO Show's Stars Then and Now

“An obvious choice would’ve been something modern and very plain and fancy, but we ended up choosing this mid-century home, which is a little tacky, but also stuck in the ‘70s,” Rév explained. “It’s probably a strange choice, but also it gives us possibilities. OnlyFans has its own aesthetic and how you elevate that aesthetic to the show’s aesthetic is a challenge. I’m not going to lie.”

Despite the backlash, Levinson stood by his vision.

“Some of these scenes we only lit with these ring lights that she would use. When you’re inside, it’s a beautiful, glowing front light, but then you jump out of it and it’s just a pool of light and everything surrounding it is dark. It’s just gnarly and jarring,” he added. “We wanted to capture what she’s trying to show the audience and be inside of it. But then also pull back wider and see how depressing it is.”

Euphoria airs on HBO Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.