"Euphoria" Has Outgrown Itself, Both On Screen and Off
According to CNN, "Euphoria," which started out in 2019 as a modest HBO show, has now outgrown its own scale heading into season 3, thanks to its stars' global fame and the tragedies that have unfolded along the way.
According to CNN writer Alli Rosenbloom, everything was different when 'Euphoria' premiered in 2019. Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi were still fresh faces; there was buzz about Zendaya taking on such a raw role after Marvel's 'Spider-Man' franchise; Eric Dane and Angus Cloud were still with us; and it was a surprise when rapper Drake was credited as one of the show's executive producers.
In the seven years since, the show has grown into a global phenomenon, both for its artistic ambition and its star-studded cast — but the drama off-screen has grown to overshadow the show as well. Angus Cloud's untimely death in 2023 and Eric Dane's public disclosure of his ALS diagnosis have deeply affected the production process. Zendaya has won two Emmys; Sweeney has built an independent film empire; Elordi has become an A-lister with 'Saltburn' and 'Priscilla.'
When season 3 arrives in fall 2026, 'Euphoria' will no longer be just a teen drama — it will be a case study testing the limits of pop culture itself. According to Rosenbloom, the real question is: "Can a show that has outgrown itself this much still hold on to its original spirit?"