The chaos, glitter, and heartbreak of Euphoria are finally returning. HBO’s hit series heads into its third chapter, and while Zendaya’s Rue remains the messy heart of the story, season 3 promises darker twists, new dynamics, and even a few fresh faces on the block.
Here’s everything you need to know about who’s back, who’s leaving, and who’s stepping into the spotlight.
Returning cast back for season three
The majority of the major cast from seasons one and two are returning for Euphoria season three:
Rue
Rue is back (obviously), in Mexico, and still evading paying back that damn briefcase full of cash. If the season 3 trailer is anything to go by, it looks like after high school, she’s finally clean, but on the run.
Jules
According to what we know so far, Jules is attending art (or fashion) school and making money as a sugar baby. In the trailer, she appears to be living in New York in a lavish penthouse.
Nate
Nate is living in the suburbs with Cassie, to whom he is now engaged. During a conversation on Entertainment Weekly‘s The Awardist podcast, Elordi said Nate’s primary focus in season three is “to survive” and that his character’s arc will involve “the end of hubris” and “the end of arrogance”.
Maddy
The eternal hustler, Maddy has moved to Hollywood and works at a talent agency.
Cassie
Cassie Howard has never, ever been happier now that she’s engaged to Nate Jacobs, living large in the suburbs, and… working on OnlyFans.
Lexi
Lexi Howard is navigating adulthood in Hollywood as an assistant to a TV show runner (played by Sharon Stone), which seems like a fairly logical step for the budding playwright.
Faye
Cherry told Collider before the season aired: “I can’t say anything about it other than I am indeed in season three.” With the season underway, we know she’s reunited with Rue and entangled with Laurie…
Elliot
While we do know that Dominic Fike is returning for season three, we don’t know a thing about where Elliot will be popping up. TBC.
Ali
Rue’s sobriety mentor and confidant is back on our screens, resuming his paternal role helping Rue out of some sticky situations. We’d love to know a little more about his backstory before things wrap up.
Suze Howard
Yep, Mrs. Howard is back for season three. We’re assuming she’ll look a little something like this watching Cassie walk down the aisle.
Cal Jacobs
Despite the tragic passing of actor Eric Dane, his character, Cal Jacobs is back in season three. It seems his relationship with Nate is as tumultuous as ever, even with the five-year time jump.
Laurie
Laurie has already reared her head in the first few episodes of season three, in all her monotone, terrifying glory. None of us are surprised she’s still chasing the money she’s owed though, are we?
New actors joining the cast of season three
HBO has cast several new players for season 3, with an official list of newcomers dropping last week:
Natasha Lyonne
BBC confirmed that the Emmy-nominated American actor and director behind Netflix’s Russian Doll and Poker Face, Natasha Lyonne would be joining the cast. We’re not sure what she’ll be doing, but we know she’ll kill it.
Sharon Stone
Of Basic Instinct and Casino fame. Superfans of the show may remember that Sharon Stone’s Casino character was Maddy Perez’s biggest inspiration and the reason she was gifted a fur coat by Nate in season one. And now, Stone is playing Perez’s boss at an LA talent agency.
Rosalía
In her major acting debut, Rosalía plays one of the girls working at the Silver Stripper with Angel and Rue. She’s only made a small cameo so far (with that bedazzled neck brace in tow), but we’re hoping there’s lots more where that came from.
Vinnie Hacker
Art imitates life. The TikTok thirst-trapper is introduced to us in episode three as content creator Ricky D. His cameo is short, but Hacker took to TikTok to say that he had several scenes cut (including some that apparently feature full-frontal nudity).
Anna Van Patten
No, you’re not imagining it, Anna does look very similar to Grace Van Patten (star of Tell Me Lies), and that’s because they’re sisters. Her character, Kitty, is introduced in episode three as a new dancer at the Silver Slipper. Those who’ve watched the episode will know Kitty’s storyline is (very) dark.
Trisha Paytas
YouTuber and social media darling Trisha Paytas is also making her first big acting debut in the series. And fans know she’s got range, so we’re stoked. She did speak about her experience on set recently with PEOPLE Magazine, saying “I feel like such an actress. Sam Levinson was directing, and he was super cool because I love [Levinson-directed series] The Idol, and we talked so much off-camera about that.”
Danielle Deadwyler
Deadline also confirmed Danielle Deadwyler’s addition to the Euphoria season three cast. This first-look photo of her on set is pretty much all we have to go off of as of now.
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Of Oz, Lost and The Mummy Returns fame. Akinnuoye-Agbaje is plays the ruthless drug dealer and all around shady character Alamo, involved with Rue.
Toby Wallace
While the specific character details are under wraps, the Australian actor’s casting was met with excitement, though rumours of him being a love interest for Jules.
Marshawn Lynch
The NFL player is a random casting addition, but one we’re excited to see develop. Nicknamed “Beast Mode”, we’re wondering if might just be playing himself?
Priscilla Delgado
Already Delgado has delivered one of the most impactful performances of the season as Angel, a young girl working at the Silver Slipper who begins to spiral when she learns her best friend has died of an overdose. in season two, Rue seemingly checks her into a rehab centre, but we have a feeling it might be a front for something far more sinister.
Other confirmed new cast members include:
- Eli Roth (horror film director)
- Gideon Adlon (Sick)
- James Landry Hébert (Ghost House)
- Cailyn Rice (1923)
- Sam Trammell (True Blood)
- Kadeem Hardison (A Different World)
- Hemky Madera (Spider-Man: Homecoming)
- Colleen Camp (Clue)
- Darrell Britt-Gibson (The Wire)
- Homer Gere (August)
- Bella Podaras (Ashley Garcia: Genius in Love)
- Jack Topalian (True Detective)
- Jessica Blair Herman (9-1-1)
- Kwame Patterson (The Wire)
- Madison Thompson (Ozark)
- Matthew Willig (Young Rock)
- Rebecca Pidgeon (Bird Box)
- Bill Bodner (Killer Psyche)
Characters not returning for season three
Kat
Barbie Ferreira recently explained that her exit from Euphoria was a mutual decision – she said that by the end of season two, “there was just nowhere to go” with her character, and she didn’t want to be stuck playing “the fat best friend,” a role that neither she nor the creators believed would serve the character or the show well.
Fezco
Angus Cloud’s death in 2023 cast a shadow over the cast and uncertainty over whether his character would reappear in the show. Following the emotional season two finale, Fez’s fate was uncertain, but early reports confirm Cloud’s presence in flashbacks and storyline continuations that honour his character.
Gia
Storm Reid, who played Zendaya’s on-screen sister, confirmed last year that she is not returning for season three. Reid revealed this was because scheduling conflicts prevented her from aligning with the production – she is completing her degree at the University of Southern California and working with her production company.
Ashtray
Javon “Wanna” Walton will not be returning for season three after his character Ashtray was killed during the tense shootout in the Season 2 finale. The young actor has since moved on to other projects, and his departure closes the arc of one of the show’s most unpredictable and violent characters.
McKay
Algee Smith, who played McKay, Cassie’s ex-boyfriend and a promising football player, will not be back for season three. His presence in season two was already reduced, and reports confirmed that his storyline had run its course, leaving no plans for his return.
Ethan
Austin Abrams, who portrayed Ethan, Kat’s ex-boyfriend, will not be returning for season three.
When will it be released?
Euphoria season three premiered on Sunday 12 April 2026 (Monday 13 April 2026 in Australia).
The third season has eight episodes, released weekly. You can read our run-down on the full release schedule, with local times across Australia, and streaming details.
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