HBO’s “Euphoria” is doubling down on star power for its highly anticipated third season, revealing a sweeping cast expansion that brings 18 fresh faces to the troubled halls of East Highland High School. Among the notable new additions are internet personality Trisha Paytas, acclaimed actress Natasha Lyonne, Oscar nominee Danielle Deadwyler, and horror filmmaker Eli Roth.
Created by Sam Levinson, the groundbreaking high school drama will return in spring 2026 with eight new episodes, marking nearly four years since Season 2 concluded in 2022.
The New Faces of East Highland
The extensive list of newcomers joining the ensemble includes Bella Podaras, Bill Bodner, Cailyn Rice, Colleen Camp, Gideon Adlon, Hemky Madera, Homer Gere, Jack Topalian, Jessica Blair Herman, Kwame Patterson, Madison Thompson, Matthew Willig, Rebecca Pidgeon, and Sam Trammell. This injection of new talent suggests Season 3 will significantly expand the show’s universe beyond its established core group of characters.
Familiar Faces Making a Comeback
Several supporting players are returning to the series, including Alanna Ubach (Suze), Daeg Faerch (Mitch), Melvin Bonez Estes (Bruce), Paula Marshall (Marsha), Sophia Rose Wilson (BB), and Zak Steiner (Aaron). As Variety exclusively reported in February, Dominic Fike will reprise his role as the drug-using, guitar-slinging Elliot.
In a particularly notable development, Nika King—who plays Rue’s (Zendaya) mother Leslie—will appear in Season 3 after making headlines for a stand-up comedy routine in which she revealed she couldn’t pay her rent due to production delays. King was initially left off HBO’s Season 3 cast list in February, making her inclusion now all the more significant.
The A-List Returns
“Euphoria” is bringing back its powerhouse ensemble, led by Emmy winner Zendaya alongside Hunter Schafer, Eric Dane, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, Maude Apatow, Martha Kelly, Chloe Cherry, and Colman Domingo. Previously announced Season 3 newcomers include Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Toby Wallace, Sharon Stone, Rosalía, Marshawn Lynch, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Kadeem Hardison, Priscilla Delgado, James Landry Hébert, Anna Van Patten, and Asante Blackk.
Award-Winning Talent Behind the Camera
The creative team has received a significant upgrade for Season 3. Four-time Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood joins as co-producer, while Natasha Newman-Thomas steps in as costume designer and Francois Audouy takes on production design duties. Perhaps most excitingly, legendary composer Hans Zimmer will score episodes of Season 3, working alongside Labrinth, who spearheaded the music of the first two seasons and will return for the new installment.
Notable Absences
Austin Abrams and Algee Smith were not included in HBO’s cast list. Storm Reid confirmed in November that her character, Rue’s sister Gia, would not be featured in Season 3. Barbie Ferreira, who played Kat, exited the series in August 2022. The production also faces the tragic absence of Angus Cloud, who portrayed beloved drug dealer Fezco in the first two seasons before his death at age 25 in July 2023.
A Cultural Phenomenon Returns
“Euphoria” follows a group of high school students orbiting around Rue, a drug-addicted teenager navigating intense social dynamics, family drama, and the ongoing struggle to stay clean after rehabilitation. Season 2 aired in 2022 and became HBO’s most-watched show that doesn’t feature dragons or zombies—a remarkable achievement in the streaming era.
Across its first two seasons, the series received 25 Emmy nominations and won nine awards, cementing its status as both a critical darling and cultural touchstone. The show’s unflinching portrayal of teenage life, combined with its bold visual style and fearless performances, has sparked countless conversations about mental health, addiction, identity, and the pressures facing Generation Z.
Production Finally Underway
Season 3 is currently in production in Los Angeles after weathering several production delays. The extended wait between seasons has only heightened anticipation among fans eager to see how Levinson will evolve his characters and tackle the challenging time jump necessitated by the cast’s aging.
With this expanded ensemble and upgraded creative team, “Euphoria” Season 3 appears poised to push boundaries even further when it arrives in spring 2026. Whether the new additions will orbit around Rue’s story or signal a broader expansion of the show’s narrative scope remains to be seen—but one thing is certain: the wait will be worth it.
