As HBO’s long-delayed third season of Euphoria begins production, Deadline reports three new names have joined the cast. Former NFLer Marshawn Lynch (Love Hurts, Bottoms), Grammy winner Rosalia (Pain and Glory, Los Ángeles), and A Different World’s Kadeem Hardison are among the supporting cast along with series regulars Jacob Elordi (Saltburn, The Kissing Booth), Sydney Sweeney (Immaculate, Anyone But You), and Zendaya (Malcolm & Marie, Challengers). The official HBO, Max, and Euphoria Instagram profiles jointly announced the news in the post below.
“If there’s anything that excites me as much as creating a good melody or writing a great lyric it’s becoming a better performer every day,” Rosalia said in a statement. “Euphoria has been my favorite series over the last few years and I couldn’t be happier and more grateful to be acting alongside all of these incredibly talented people that I admire so much and contributing my “granito de arena” to bring Sam’s vision to reality to make magic. I can’t wait to share what we’re doing!!! Besitos, Rosi.”
The nine-photo post included the full cast with news that A24 has partnered in producing the third season. It also listed the names of returning crew members. New cast members include Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Farming, Secret Level), Anna Van Patten (Master, Law & Order: SVU), Toby Wallace (Babyteeth, The Royal Hotel), Darrell Britt-Gibson (Keanu, 20th Century Women), Priscilla Delgado (Just Before Christ, Julieta), and James Landry Hébert (1883, Stranger Things). Sing Sing’s Colman Domingo, Chloe Cherry (Chloe Cherry Likes Her Men Like Her Tea), Alexa Demie (Waves, The Idol), Eric Dane (Grey’s Anatomy, Bad Boys: Ride or Die), Martha Kelly (Spider-Man: Homecoming, Marriage Story), Maude Apatow (This Is 40, Funny People), and Hunter Schafer (Cuckoo, Kinds of Kindness) round out the returning cast.
According to Deadline, the season will feature major time jump, following our former high schoolers into adulthood. With a 2026 premiere date, season three’s eight episodes will come four years after season two concluded. The last we saw Rue (Zendaya), she had dodged a dangerous predicament after a wild search for drugs. With a new commitment to sobriety, she and her classmates experienced her best friend Lexi’s (Apatow) play mirroring their lives. The explosive revelations splintered Maddy (Demie) and Cassie’s (Sweeney) friendship while leaving toxic loverboy Nate (Elordi) exposed. As Lexi basked in the success of her original work, she couldn’t help but notice a certain audience seat remained empty. Miles away, Fezco (the late Angus Cloud) battled an armored militia as police descended on his apartment.
“I’m hella juiced about the show and getting a chance to work with the people in front and behind the camera. At the end of the day, I’m just thankful for the opportunity,” Lynch said.
With the full cast announced one will notice some major players are missing. Storm Reid, (The Last of Us, Missing) who played Rue’s younger sister, Gia Bennett, previously announced she would not return due to scheduling conflicts. And Barbie Ferreira, who played Kat Hernandez (Bob Trevino Likes It, Nope) departed during season two. Deadline reports two other series regulars, Nika King (Greenleaf, NCIS: Los Angeles) and Algee Smith (The New Edition Story, The Hate U Give) are also out along with Austin Abrams (Paper Towns, Do Revenge). King played Rue’s mother, Leslie Bennett; Smith Cassie’s college boyfriend, Chris McKay; and Abrams portrayed Kat’s boyfriend, Ethan Daley. Season two’s Elliot, portrayed by Dominic Fike (Barbie, Spider-Man: Acorss the Spider-Verse), will also not return.
Hardison, who shared a set with Zendaya on Disney’s K.C. Undercover for three seasons, shared his excitement about the role in a statement posted by HBO:
“I was over the moon when I heard the news that I booked it. It’s amazing to be back on set with Z. She and I formed a tight friendship while shooting K.C. Undercover and we’ve stayed close, so this is truly special. Sam, Ashley, the entire cast and crew have all been great to work with and we’re all very happy to be shooting it here in LA, especially after the travesty that thousands here just experienced. Our hearts go out to everyone affected and here’s to hoping more productions follow suit and come back to Los Angeles to shoot.”
The first two seasons and two special episodes of Euphoria are available to stream on Max.