Update: HBO Downplays ‘Euphoria’ Cancellation Report, Claims Season 3 Is Just Delayed

Update, March 25, 4:30 p.m. ET: HBO has stated to several media outlets, including Entertainment Tonight, in response to World of Reel’s cancellation claim. Euphoria Season 3 is not shooting in the direct future, so they have told actors they can take other work in the meantime. Despite this setback, HBO claims it isn’t canceling the series.

“HBO and Sam Levinson remain committed to making an exceptional third season,” the HBO statement read. “In the interim, we are allowing our in-demand cast to pursue other opportunities.”

In her own report, Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva goes on to say Euphoria was windowed to resume filming in the coming months, but not exact date was ever settled on before this delay. Sam Levison, the writer/director who adapted the Israeli show Euphoria for U.S. audiences, is said to still be working on Season 3’s script.

Original Story, March 24, 11:15 p.m. ET: Despite a reported delay in the third season of Euphoria airing, World of Reel reports the entire season has been “totally scrapped.” Production was set to resume this summer, but it reportedly fell through, and on Friday the cast was reportedly made aware that they could free up their schedules for other projects. Amid the break, most of the show’s actors have focused on other projects, most notably Zendaya and Colman Domingo, the latter of whom won an Oscar for his portrayal of Baynard Rustin for Best Actor. 

The news comes after Nika King joked in a recent comedy skit that she was struggling to pay her bills due to the show’s hiatus. In the coming-of-age drama, King stars as Leslie, the mother of Zendaya‘s character Rue. She said during her set, “Don’t ask me [when Season 3 is coming out]. I don’t f—ing know. Don’t ask me, I don’t know,” she joked, with footage from a recent standup event posted on her TikTok account. “People are like, ‘We need season 3,’ and I’m like, bitch, I need season 3! I haven’t paid my rent in six months.”

While Zendaya was busy promoting her role in Dune: Part Two and keeping busy with other ventures, King suggested that she was holding up the project. “Zendaya’s over in Paris at Fashion Week, and I’m like, ‘B—, come home! I need you! Mama needs you.’”

Casey Bloys, an executive at HBO, announced the show would be returning for its next season in 2025. The show’s creator, Sam Levinson, previously said the third season is equivalent to a “film noir” that would “explore what it means to be an individual with principles in a corrupt world” through Zendaya’s character, as reported by Entertainment Weekly. No one from the cast, nor HBO, has commented on the show’s alleged end as of press time.

A few cast members, and crew, have died since the show’s premiere. The show tells the story of Rue, a teen who struggles to stay clean after drug treatment. Zendaya’s performance has been critically acclaimed, with her taking home Emmy awards for her performance.