Zendaya Explains Tough Moments On Euphoria Set As Season 3 Filming Approaches: "Gotta Go Cry & Knock A Door Down"

Euphoria star Zendaya explains how she deals with tough moments on set as the filming start date for season 3 looms. Created by Sam Levinson, the hit HBO drama premiered in 2019, chronicling the lives of a group of high school students as they deal with issues related to drugs, sex, and friendship. The show, which stars Zendaya as drug addict Rue, has faced a rocky and uncertain road following the release of season 2 in 2022, but Euphoria season 3 is now expected to start filming in January 2025.

During a recent installment of Variety's "Actors on Actors" show, Zendaya speaks with Nicole Kidman about their acting journeys in Hollywood, bringing up her challenging experiences as Rue on Euphoria. Though Zendaya doesn't specifically address what's to come from season 3, she does speak briefly about the show's future and how draining it is to shoot new episodes:

We’re supposed to do another season. I’ve only done two, but it feels like five. One season of “Euphoria” is like, “Phew!"

Speaking about the toll filming Euphoria takes on her body, Zendaya tells Kidman: "I still have my Rue scars." Filming the show can also be mentally and emotionally taxing, and the Rue actor reveals that she tries not to stay in her character's headspace when not filming:

I’m still learning, but I do know that I like to have fun on my job. I don’t want to be miserable just because the character’s miserable. On “Euphoria,” we’d have really, really tough days. I’m like, “OK, gotta go cry and knock down a door real quick,” and then I’ll come back like, “Hey, Cheesecake Factory? What are we getting for lunch?” I try my best to leave them at work and go home and live my life and be a person.

The HBO Show Has Been At The Center Of Various Controversies

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The HBO drama may be very physically and mentally demanding for Euphoria cast members, but it's clear that the show's content is striking a chord with viewers. Reviews for the show haven't just been positive across both seasons, but the series has also been a major viewership hit for HBO and Max. The show is so popular, in fact, that season 2 helped it become the second most-watched HBO show ever behind Game of Thrones.

Related Fresh Euphoria Report Makes Me Even More Concerned About HBO's Season 3 A recent report about Euphoria makes me even more worried about the long-delayed season 3, whose story and release date are still unclear.

It's important to note, however, that Euphoria has also found itself in some hot water. The show has caught flack, for example, for its abundance of nudity, and Levinson himself has been accused in reports of creating a toxic set environment. The filming hours are alleged to be quite extreme, and various stars, including Sydney Sweeney, have revealed that they have asked for select nude scenes to be changed if they didn't add to the story. Many stars involved in the show have also, however, praised Levinson and largely dismissed claims about the toxic work environment.

It's been reported that Zendaya and Levinson have been at odds about Rue's storyline in Euphoria season 3, which is part of why season 3 is taking so long to come to fruition.

Season 3 Could Be The Most Emotional One Yet

It's challenging to paint an accurate picture of exactly what goes on behind-the-scenes of Euphoria, but it is clear that such weighty subject matter can take a toll on the actors. Rue's storyline on the show continues to be one of the most emotional, traumatic, and explosive, and Zendaya is evidently reticent about not taking those feeling home with her at the end of the day. It remains to be seen what's to come from Euphoria season 3, but audiences are likely in for more emotional turmoil when the controversial HBO show returns.

Source: Variety