Zendaya Discusses ‘Euphoria’ Time Jump and Upcoming Challenges in Her Career

Zendaya recently shared her excitement about the upcoming third season of HBO‘s popular drama series, ‘Euphoria,’ which will feature a significant time jump into the characters’ lives post-high school. In an interview with ‘Entertainment Weekly,’ Zendaya emphasized the necessity of this transition, expressing that “it’s important because there’s only so much high school drama you can deal with.”

The actress, who plays the lead role of Rue in the series, mentioned that “it will be fascinating to see and understand these characters outside of the context of high school.” Despite being an executive producer on the show, Zendaya revealed that she has limited knowledge about the specific direction of the new season, noting, “I don’t actually know much about what is happening.”

The show’s creator and writer, Sam Levinson, is reportedly working on the new season’s storyline. Casey Bloys, HBO’s chief content officer, confirmed in June that the “same core cast” would return after the time jump. Bloys mentioned, “When you take it out of [high school], there’s a lot of back and forth about where to set it and how far in the future to set it and all that stuff.”

The first two seasons of ‘Euphoria’ received acclaim for its unflinching depiction of teenage life, exploring themes such as addiction, domestic violence, and human trafficking. The series starred Zendaya alongside a supporting ensemble cast.

However, some notable cast changes will occur in the upcoming season. Actress Barbie Ferreira, who played Kat Hernandez, announced her departure after the second season, and the show will not feature Angus Cloud, who tragically passed away in July 2023.

Adding to her busy schedule, Zendaya also opened up to ‘Entertainment Weekly’ about her role in the film ‘Challengers,’ discussing the shift to portraying characters her own age. She remarked, “I say I’ve been playing a 16-year-old since I was 16,” and expressed gratitude for the audience’s reception to her more mature roles.