Prime Video’s Blade Runner 2099 is set to take fans back to the grungy, techno-futuristic world Ridley Scott developed more than 40 years ago. This chapter in the sci-fi saga, however, will feature different characters played by franchise newbies Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer. Both actresses apparently got quite close while filming the series, to the point that Yeoh did something to ensure Schafer was safe while performing stunts. And believe me when I say this is just so mom-coded (and I love it).

2099 sees Yeoh play Olwen, a dying replicant Blade Runner hunting down a rogue faction of replicants in Los Angeles. Olwen is joined in that pursuit by Schafer’s Cora, a human trying to blend in amid the new replicant-run regime. With that, Schafer and Yeoh spent a considerable amount of time together on set, and they spoke about those experiences during their show’s panel at San Diego Comic-Con, which CinemaBlend attended. Schafer opened up about getting to dip her toes into action scenes and learning from her co-star:

Long before Ip Man exploded onto the big screen or Shang-Chi “ninja-kicked that glass ceiling” for Asian representation, Michelle Yeoh was tearing it up as a big-screen action hero. The Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once star is a skilled martial artist and has various credits under her belt. So I can understand why Schafer would be geeking out over getting to work with Yeoh in an action-based context. Yeoh also had some high praise for her co-star, and Schafar revealed the gift she got from Yeoh, too:

• Yeoh: I’ve never seen a more fearless action hero. I mean, she really, literally dove in. I was almost trying to hold her back like, ‘No, no, no, no…. too late. Okay. Is Hunter OK?’ She would do the tumbles, the falls. I’m like, ‘Hunter, where are your pads?’
• Schafer: She bought me a baby helmet.
• Yeoh: Well, you got a concussion! I had to protect my baby, okay? I was like, ‘Here, where this.’ So I got her a baby helmet.

Just when I thought I didn’t need yet another reason to love Michelle Yeoh, I have one. Honestly, it warms my heart to hear about her taking the time to ensure her co-star’s safety. The notion of the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon icon buying Schafer a “baby helmet” may sound funny, but stunt work is no laughing matter. And, based on the Blade Runner 2099 teaser, Schafer had to take part in some truly intense scenes. Check it out:

I also like the notion of Hunter Schafer getting to spread her wings when it comes to action-centric material. As she mentioned, she’d had some opportunities to try a bit, but this show is arguably her biggest chance to try stunts. This might only be the beginning of Schafer working with stunts as well. That could especially be true if the X-Men rumor regarding her playing Mystique pans out.

At the risk of getting too far ahead of myself, though, I’m just eager to see Schafer share the screen alongside Yeoh in the Blade Runner spinoff show amid the 2026 TV schedule. I’m confident that the show will be just as intense and cerebral as the franchise’s two films and that the two leads will have great chemistry. And best believe I won’t forget Yeoh’s mom-centric gesture whenever I’m watching her “baby,” Schafer, perform stunts.

Blade Runner 2099 premieres on November 25, and all eight episodes will be available to stream at that time. Be sure to grab a Prime Video subscription by that time so you’ll be able to check out the show.

When it comes to upcoming Marvel movies on the way, the franchise’s impending future feels more blurry than ever. Of course, we know we have Avengers: Doomsday to look forward to this holiday season and Avengers: Secret Wars the year after that, but we have so many questions about what new blood will be part of the next phase of the MCU, including through the X-Men movie. But, I like one rumor going around.

We know that Thunderbolts* filmmaker Jake Schreier is behind the untitled X-Men reboot and recently he told us that he’s been discussing how to do “something that feels new” with the beloved comic book title. And, certainly casting the right talent who can bring new layers and audiences to characters we’ve seen before is one way you could do that. That’s why I’m so high on the new rumor going around that Euphoria’s Hunter Schafer is in the running for the role of Mystique.

The rumor comes from a scooper on X, who says the 27-year-old is “still being considered” for the reboot. If this casting tidbit comes true, Schafer would be following Rebecca Romijn from the original films and Jennifer Lawrence’s version from the prequels. The role would once again go to a blonde-haired beauty, but it feels like there’s to be more room with her to explore the inherent androgyny of the comic book character should the role be played by the transgender actor, model and activist.

I also think there’s a certain softness to Schafer that doesn’t quite feel like the other Mystique actors that could be interesting to see from the shapeshifter, too. Rather than being the enigmatic bombshell that the character is often portrayed as, I think she could offer a new shade to the character for a new generation.

Hunter Schafer has been constantly incredible on Euphoria as Rue since the HBO series premiered back in 2019, and yet, it feels like she hasn’t had a lot of chances to take up space in another high profile role aside from Euphoria since. She did have a small part in the YA action franchise Hunger Games: The Ballad Songbirds and Snakes, but it feels like she’s often fan casted more than she’s cast in the big roles we want to see her in. People were also hoping to see her in the Zelda movie along with Gwen Stacy in the Spider-Man movies with Tom Holland (per Reddit).

Hunter Schafer’s name isn’t the only name we’ve heard in association with the mysterious X-Men reboot, other names that have come up have been Marty Supreme’s Odessa A’zion for Rogue, The Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Peter Claffey as Beast, Sadie Sink for Jean Grey and Sydney Sweeney for Emma Frost. I can’t wait for the day when Marvel Studios confirms the casting for this movie, because a new iteration of the mutants could really bring new excitement to the MCU.

Considering all of the long delays, it’s such a relief that Euphoria Season 3 is finally filming. As the HBO series has gotten the world talking because of its incredible cast and hard-hitting stories, a number of fans are eager to see the further adventures of their favorite East Highland High alums. Of course, there can't be all work without a bit of play. Amid work on the third season, the cast of the Emmy-winning series, including Sydney Sweeney and Hunter Schafer, got together for a fun-looking karaoke night.

The cast of Euphoria may share tense scenes in the HBO hit, but it looks like some of them, at the very least, enjoy a bit of fun off-set. If you need any proof, @BuzzingPop took a short video of Sydney Sweeney, Hunter Schafer, and Maude Apatow singing 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up?” and I’m so jealous:

They all looked like they were having a good time with each other, as there seemed to be plenty of smiles and laughter. All of this is truly refreshing, especially since Euphoria’s Season 2 finale had Sweeney’s Cassie and Apatow’s Lexi at war with each other. Needless to say, it's great seeing the actors living it up together in real life.

As for the upcoming episodes, what's known about Euphoria Season 3 thus far is that fans will see a number of returning characters like Rue, Nate, Jules, Maddy, Cassie and Lexi. Unfortunately, some familiar faces will not be returning, as cast members Barbie Ferreira (Kat) and Storm Reid (Gia) are out. Sadly, Fezco actor Angus Cloud passed away in 2023, and it's yet to be revealed how his character's fate will be handled.

It's also said that there will be a time jump, as the cast has aged since the second season's finale. Creator Sam Levinson said the time-jump would allow him to go “deeper” with the show's emotionally-charged characters. The EP also feels that this storytelling decision will be the perfect way to see how the characters navigate the sometimes scary world of adulting.

As the cast of the young adult drama films the new episodes, many of them have had plenty to say about what they wish to see in their characters’ journey. For instance, what Hunter Schafer would like for Jules is for her to be able to “chill out.” Considering the upcoming A24 show delivers heavy drama that can shock viewers, it's hard to say if any of our beloved characters will lead low-key lives in adulthood.

After Sydney Sweeney kept getting asked about the time jump, she ended up revealing that Cassie gets “even worse,” and the actress looks forward to what will happen to her in the final season. During Cassie's last appearance, Nate broke up with her, and she fought with her sister for portraying her toxic relationship with Nate in her school play. Plus, Cassie and Maddy were no longer best friends since Nate was the latter's ex. So, given Cassie's apparent low point, I'd expect Sweeney to possibly play out some dark scenes involving her character.

That would theoretically be all the more reason for Sweeney to unwind with a fun karaoke night alongside her co-stars. I'm hopeful that they get plenty of downtime, because I know I'd need to have some fun after filming the kind of material they work with. Euphoria’s final season is expected to premiere on HBO in 2026, and it'll be available to stream with an HBO Max subscription, too. While you wait, why not rewatch the first two seasons on the aforementioned streamer?

Hunter Schafer may be taking over the young Hollywood scene after her breakout performance in the first two seasons of Euphoria, but things haven’t always been easy for her. The HBO hit was her first role, meaning she didn’t know much about what she needed to do to prepare to play Jules. So, as they were filming the show’s pilot, she actually locked herself in her hotel room.

The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes actress had no acting experience when she booked Euphoria, which is still hard to believe now, considering how well she plays Jules. However, at the time, she was a 20-year-old model acting for the first time who had to cry on cue, and she didn't know how. While speaking with W Magazine, Schafer recalled how she knew she had to deliver since she was “number two on the call sheet.” Due to not having any experience, though, she decided to isolate herself because it’s what she thought she had to do:

While it sounds extreme, I get her thought process. Crying on cue is hard. It sounds like she really wanted to figure out how to do it and was trying to get in the zone. Even though she didn't end up shedding a tear while filming, clearly, it all turned out great, because she's a stand-out on the show.

Now that Hunter Schafer has been doing Euphoria for two seasons (soon-to-be three), and is landing more roles, she’s probably figured out her own process when it comes to getting into character. It also probably helps that some of her Euphoria co-stars have been in the acting game for a while, and she probably got advice from them.

Starting a new role is scary, especially when it’s your first one, but Schafer clearly did something right because she’s been landing projects left and right, including recently nabbing Blade Runner 2099.

As for the third season of Euphoria, Schafer will have a little bit longer to prepare for any crying scenes, as production isn’t set to begin until January 2025. This will mean that the series is getting back to filming nearly three years after Season 2 premiered on HBO in January 2022. Hopefully, the wait won't be long after that for the new episodes. However, Shcafer and her co-stars all have various other projects in the works to keep us occupied and entertained.

Between Euphoria Season 3, Blade Runner 2099 and more, there's a lot to look forward to from Schafer that will show off her incredible talents as an actor. While we wait for those, you can always rewatch the first two seasons of Euphoria with a Max subscription, and try to figure out the scene from Season 1 the actress was talking about.

While HBO has been releasing exciting content on the 2024 TV schedule, this year has also been full of talk about whether Season 3 of Euphoria would ever get made. Well, after months of speculation and debate about when the show would finally start filming again, they’re set to go back into production. However, one of the show’s stars, Hunter Schafer, opened up about why its return kind of surprised her, and the challenges that will likely come with making the upcoming episodes.

As Euphoria’s delay has felt unending, Schafer has picked up new roles and her career is flourishing. So, along with filming new projects – like Blade Runner 2099 – she’ll also be back Jules in Sam Levinson’s acclaimed drama. However, the news that she’d actually be returning sooner than later seemed to surprise her, as she told W Magazine:

The profile noted that as the actress said this she seemed “just as surprised as anyone about the HBO teen drama’s return.” And I get why. Euphoria’s delays caused it to be in limbo for a long time as its creator, Levinson, reportedly worked on finishing the scripts.

On top of all that, getting Euphoria’s cast back together must be a scheduling nightmare. This is because actors like Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, Colman Domingo and Schafer are all highly sought-after performers who have starred in numerous movies since Season 2. Therefore, getting them all back in the same room when they have other projects in the works has to be difficult.

The Cuckoo actress also opened up about a deeply emotional challenge that will come with Season 3 once they get back together to film it. Since Season 2 aired, two people from Euphoria’s team have passed away. Angus Cloud died in July of 2023 and one of the show’s executive producers, Kevin Turen, passed in November of last year. To that point, the actress spoke about how their absence will make production challenging yet bittersweet:

I’m sure it’ll be difficult to move forward without Cloud and Turen. However, as The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes actress said, it will also be a great opportunity to honor them and spend more time with the group of people who work on the show.

Now, it’s only a matter of time before we get to see this season of television that even Hunter Schafer was surprised about. Reportedly, Euphoria Season 3 will go into production in January 2025. So, hopefully, that means we’ll see new episodes later in the year.

However, there’s still a lot we don’t know about this highly anticipated season, and we likely won’t know much more until next year. But, in the meantime, as the cast chats more about what it was like living through all these delays and what’s to come for their characters we’ll keep you posted.

We’re still a couple of months away from the official start of spooky season, but there are plenty of upcoming horror movies and thrillers to keep you uncomfortable during your trip to the theater. Director Tilman Singer's Cuckoo is among those, and according to critics who have screened the movie ahead of its August 9 release date, it might be one of the stranger theatrical experiences you’ll have this year.

Cuckoo stars Hunter Schafer, who has accepted multiple other roles as we wait for the highly anticipated Euphoria Season 3. In this movie, she plays Gretchen, an angsty teen forced to move to the German Alps with her father (Marton Csokas), his new wife (Jessica Henwick) and their young daughter to live at a resort run by Dan Stevens’ mysterious Herr König. Let’s see what critics are saying.

Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times rates it 3 out of 4 stars, praising Hunter Schafer’s first performance in a leading role as “funny, empathetic, powerful and resolute.” Of the movie overall, the critic says:

Adam Graham of the Detroit News gives Cuckoo a "B," calling the movie a “trippy, deranged, time-glitching mind-bender” that ratchets up the crazy and manages to keep viewers absorbed, even though it doesn’t always make sense. Graham continues:

Lindsey Bahr of the Associated Press gives it 2.5 stars out of 4, saying that while she finds the movie’s big reveals a little “underwhelming,” this project from writer/director Tilman Singer is well worth the watch. Dan Stevens especially impresses with a performance that’s described as “wonderfully sinister” and “off-kilter.” Rarely is it a bad thing when a horror leans into style, Bahr writes, and Cuckoo fully commits. The critic continues:

Reuben Baron of Looper rates the “supremely strange” movie 6 out of 10, with the critic struggling to decipher the film’s two big secrets to determine what happens and what it means (if anything). In the end, the critic is left with “mixed and neutral” impressions of Cuckoo, writing:

Travis Hopson of Punch Drunk Critics says Tilman Singer delivers on the title, with many different meanings of “cuckoo” making their way into the “wildly incoherent” flick. While the momentum stalls in the second act, according to the critic, the final stretch delivers “maximum freakishness.” Hopson writes:

While many critics express confusion and uncertainty about what exactly they experienced, their general impressions appear to be positive. Overall Cuckoo has been declared Certified Fresh with a 79% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

If you want to see what all the craziness is about, you can catch the film in theaters starting on Friday, August 9. Be sure to check out our 2024 movie release schedule to see what else is coming soon.

Remember when you could rely on your favorite shows coming out every year? When it comes to upcoming A24 TV shows like the long-awaited third season of Euphoria, which feel like eight-hour movies told across two months, it’s a different story. After a series of delays since Season 2 came out in 2022, there’s thankfully a plan for when the HBO hit will reunite its cast led by Zendaya. 

When Euphoria Season 3 Is Finally Set To Be Filmed

Back in March, we learned that the Euphoria cast was being encouraged to pursue other projects while the show’s creator Sam Levinson worked on the new season’s scripts. It was not exactly a promising update, but that changes with the latest report about the series. 

Per Deadline, Season 3 is now having the cast carve out January 2025 as the production’s start date! And you know what’s even better? It is being reported that “all of the principal cast” is in fact returning. 

That’s right. Somehow, Sam Levinson and HBO were able to get the likes of Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi and company back in their roles for the upcoming shoot. It feels like a miracle that all these actors, who are now among the most sought-after young talents in Hollywood, could all be rounded up. I was really beginning to think that Euphoria was going to leave us hanging with two seasons. 

As A Fan I'm So Relieved

In the time since Euphoria Season 2 equally blew my mind and broke my heart, a lot has happened to work against the next season of the show. 

For one, Sam Levinson’s other series, The Idol, had a string of changes and reported issues that gave the creator some seriously bad press, and must have had both HBO and Levinson himself questioning the next thing he wrote. 

Then, Angus Cloud died last summer at the age of 25. It was an absolutely tragic and unexpected death for the Euphoria family that I’d imagine changed Levinson’s plans and perhaps required a mourning period for all who worked with the cast member on the drama. 

When I heard about the initial delays earlier this year, it didn’t bother me. That's because ever since the Season 2 finale, I’ve been hoping for the series to get out of high school and give these characters some room to breathe away from the circumstances they were immediately dealing with. It’s so time for Euphoria to take its characters to a new moment in their lives, and I appreciate Levinson really taking the rest of the year to flesh out what’s next for Rue and the rest of the main characters. 

While I’m super relieved, we still have quite some time to wait. I have a feeling the new season won’t come until late 2025 (at the very earliest). In the meantime, you can catch up with Euphoria episodes now with a Max subscription. 

It’s been over two years since the Season 2 finale of Euphoria, and if it seems like these days the main cast are doing everything but shooting the next season, you’d be right. Earlier this year, it was reported that while Sam Levinson is hammering away on the scripts for return of the hit series, the “in-demand cast” has been encouraged to “pursue other opportunities,” per HBO. Many of its stars are very much doing that, including Hunter Schafer, who just earned a role in an upcoming series.

Schafer, who famously made her acting debut by playing Jules in Euphoria, has been cast in Amazon’s Blade Runner 2099 series, per Deadline. The actor joins Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh, who we learned was leading the show in May. The streaming project will serve as a sequel to Blade Runner 2049, which starred Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford and was helmed by Dune’s Denis Villeneuve. Schafer’s role in the science fiction show has not been revealed.

The limited series will go further into the dystopia, imagining Philip K. Dick’s world at a time where it’s nearly impossible to tell who is human and who is replicant. Yeoh is set to star as Olwen, a replicant who is about to expire. Ridley Scott, who of course made the original Blade Runner film, is producing the sequel series.

Reportedly, the production for Blade Runner 2099 is already underway. Considering Euphoria Season 3 may not roll cameras until later this year or 2025, Schafer has picked a great time to keep herself immersed in another project. Even so, it feels like the Euphoria delays could be never-ending as more and more of the cast line up new roles while they wait.

Thankfully, HBO boss Casey Bloys confirmed this week to Variety that Euphoria will no longer be set in high school for the next season. This definitely gives more leg room for its main cast, who are primarily in their mid to late 20s nowadays.

Hunter Schafer has been staying busy during the wait for Euphoria Season 3, including getting to be part of the latest Hunger Games movie, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Schafer has also already shot David Lowery’s latest movie, Mother Mary with Anne Hathaway.

She is set to star next in two 2024 movies. First off, you can see her in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Kinds of Kindness later this month with Emma Stone, Jesse Plemens, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, Joe Alwyn, and Mamoudou Athie. Then in August, Schafer will be the star of the Neon horror movie Cuckoo alongside Dan Stevens and Jessica Henwick.

Schafer is also the current fan favorite for the live-action Legend of Zelda movie. Following the massive success of Euphoria, it’s awesome to see actors like Hunter Schafer getting recognition outside the series, but when will we get to press play on the highly-anticipated new season? For now we know this to be true: it’s gonna be awhile!

Jules, played by Hunter Schafer, is one of the most complex characters on HBO’s Euphoria. While Jules is known for her carefree personality and iconic glittery makeup look, Schafer’s character goes through a lot in the teen drama, and we want to know what happens to her next. Now, with Season 3 still up in the air, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes actress expressed her wishes for where we'll see her character when she returns to the HBO hit. 

The character of Jules has been through it in Euphoria. In Season 1, we learned she had a tough upbringing with a mother going through addiction and sending her daughter to a psychiatric hospital after self-harming. Then as she got older, Jules got into a lot of trouble having sexual encounters with men she met online. Hunter Schafer’s role was smaller in Season 2, and it involved a love triangle between her, Rue, and Elliot. The Season 2 finale ended with Rue going her separate ways from Jules, and we need to know what happens next.

While we don't know much about Season 3 of Euphoria, there have been hints of a five-year time jump. This makes sense since the stars portraying the teens are now in their mid-20s and they don't really look like high schoolers anymore. Hunter Schafer spoke with Variety on the purple carpet at the GQ Global Creativity Awards about her wishes for Jules, saying that she hopes it’s been smooth sailing for Jules within those five years:

I understand that you want to be able to portray carefree teen years with some fun compared to always dealing with heavy drama. Then again, Euphoria has always been known for its teen characters dealing with heavy topics beyond their years like addiction, mental illness, toxic relationships, self-harm, and more. Hopefully, all of these characters can catch a little break.

Hunter Schafer continued to say how much she misses everyone from the Euphoria cast, noting how everyone’s careers have been booming. With these booming careers, the question still lingers about whether or not we’ll actually get a third season of the HBO series. Filming was supposed to start last June until production was paused because of the WGA Writers Strike. After the strike ended, production reportedly was to resume, but it was delayed again by HBO last month due to series creator Sam Levinson leaving the scripts unfinished. 

It doesn’t help that there’s a rumor that Euphoria might be canceled. If that’s true, I can understand why, because the cast is so incredibly busy it'd be hard to get them all together. Other than Hunter Schafer, stars like Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, and Jacob Elordi have been reaching success with their own film projects and continue to keep themselves busy. 

Jules may have had her struggles in the past two seasons of Euphoria, but hopefully, she can catch a break if Season 3 takes off. Until we know for sure what’s happening to the upcoming A24 show, the first two seasons of Euphoria are available to watch with a Max subscription.

Euphoria was a breakout show in 2019, and it has all the elements of a hot teen series: a bankable star like Zendaya, themes that make it feel more adult than most of what is airing, and a stylish brand constructed by Sam Levinson. The first two seasons were smashes for HBO, getting critical praise for the performances by the young cast and strong filmmaking components. As a result, the cast of Euphoria got more and more famous and the show got popular. But once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Euphoria Season 2 was delayed, and did not air until 2022. Now it seems like Euphoria Season 3 is also facing more hiccups. Actress Hunter Schafer recently opened up about talking to Zendaya about this pause, and how the many hiatuses negatively have affected her emotionally. 

Hunter Schafer, like most of the cast, has had meteoric success outside of her work on Euphoria, and was one of the stars of last year’s buzzy blockbuster, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. But much of the work she's been in has been post-pandemic, and the actress recently told GQ about how COVID-19 and the lack of work during that time was something she really struggled with. Schafer said:

This was made worse by her quarantine location. It happened to be in an apartment across from the production lot where she was set to film Euphoria Season 2, which was delayed at the time. She was in her early 20s with a blossoming acting career just starting, and the situation caused what she referred to as “a mental breakdown.” Schafer explained:

GQ explained that when she told the publication about the time in her life, she didn’t emphasize the direness of her mental health in 2020. But she later expressed how serious it was, and how important it was for her to seek help. Schafer said:

Thankfully, Schafer did seek help and since seems to be thriving as the world is recovering from what was a debilitating situation for many. Luckily she has friend and co-star Zendaya to lean on and chat about their shared experience. Their Euphoria characters Rue and Jules have a relationship on the series which has extended to Schafer and Zendaya maintaining a real life friendship. Zendaya’s career has also hit a number of pauses, with Dune being delayed a year during the pandemic and most recently Dune: Part 2 and Challengers being delayed because of the Hollywood strikes in 2023. 

While both of their careers have flourished regardless of external factors, fans will still have to wait even longer for Euphoria Season 3. Rumors have been swirling around the reasons for the delay, with some citing Zendaya’s dislike of the script to be a primary reason. The official statement from HBO has cited creator Sam Levinson’s desire for perfection to be the reason, and this is truly the case, it doesn’t bother me that Euphoria creators are taking their time to get it right. The cast is able to pursue other ventures during this pause, so hopefully this doesn’t mean any more career stoppages for Hunter Schafer or Zendaya.

Even if the Season 3’s release date seems pretty far off, you can still see Hunter Schafer and Zendaya on the first two seasons of Euphoria, which is currently streaming for Max subscribers. They also both have movies heading to the big screen in 2024, so make sure to check out Schafer in Kinds of Kindness on June 21st, and Zendaya in Challengers on April 26th. 

When it comes to TV shows about high schoolers, producers and studios typically seem keen on swiftly moving from one season to the next. That clearly hasn't been the case with HBO’s Euphoria, especially with the latest reports that Season 3 has been delayed and its cast has been encouraged to pursue other opportunities in the meantime. On that note, there’s one particular reason I’m totally not sweating the news that we’ll have to wait longer to see the highly-anticipated third season of Euphoria.

Now, it’s hard to believe the Zendaya-led show premiered back in 2019, and we’ve only seen two seasons so far. If Riverdale had started that year, for example, we’d certainly be on Season 6 by now. Of course, these are completely different shows, with the former carefully crafting a storyline around Rue’s drug addiction amongst a host of other difficult subjects concerning teens. With that in mind, I really appreciate the creators and HBO as a whole for taking the pedal off the gas (despite the series' viral popularity) and only delivering the goods once the right story is ready. With that, let me get more into depth regarding why the recent delay doesn’t bother me much. 

The Best Next Move For Euphoria Is A Big Time Jump

After watching the Season 2 finale in February 2022, one prevailing thought washed over me: this series needs a time jump. Aside from that fact that it was already proving too obvious to me that the cast no longer looks like they're in high school, I think the show would also really benefit from taking its characters out of their adolescence and picking up with them perhaps some five, even ten years into the future. 

While some shows about high schoolers feel like they need that setting to work, I really feel like if Euphoria utilizes it much longer it'll actually become a hindrance to the show. Some of the best scenes and moments of the series have absolutely nothing to do with the fact that main characters go to high school, in my humble opinion. (Although I’m of course thrilled the school play episode happened.) 

Then there’s the ongoing conversation about the show's mature themes and how those are mixed with the underaged characters. If they were simply not high schoolers anymore, this would no longer warrant discussion. Also, it would give series creator Sam Levinson to delve into more explicit and mature storytelling, as per usual, without some of the unwanted backlash that he's garnered in the past. 

Why I’m Excited By The Notion Of Euphoria Doing A Time Jump 

Rue, by the time the second season ended, was a 17-year-old junior who was on the road to remaining sober after a rather rough turn of events. I think it would make sense for her to have a few years in which she stays sober and is out of turmoil. I can see the show doing a recap that shows her graduating high school and so forth. However, after a few years of some happiness and less bumps in the road (because girl deserves some peace), perhaps Season 3 could either pick up with her relapsing or being suddenly faced with a demon of her past that challenges her years of progress. 

Something like this would be a solid way to continue the conversations present within Euphoria rather than let it snowball and snowball to ridiculous lengths by picking up right where it left off. Plus, it's quite common for sobriety to be a nonlinear process. So the time jump could spark further discussions around relapse after kicking an addiction. Also, I’m really curious where all the characters end up years after high school! Like, what happens to Cassie and Maddie once they are no longer roaming the same halls? Do they make up? Or never speak again? What patterns subsist?  

Euphoria Has Also Benefitted From The Delay 

Since Euphoria has been on hiatus, the production has been hit with a number of setbacks, and those aren't just due to the two major Hollywood strikes last year. There was also the tragic death of Angus Cloud at the age of 25 last summer and the show’s producer Kevin Turen, suddenly dying of heart failure in November at 45. Then there’s Sam Levinson’s controversial series, The Idol, which perhaps left Hollywood wanting some space from the filmmaker. I think there’s something to be said about the show not only getting some time to grieve these deaths but receiving some physical space from the previous season. The three-year gap between Season 1 and 2 certainly only benefitted its success. 

It’s also been rather exciting to see many of the Euphoria stars branch out from the HBO series and make names for themselves in the film industry. Jacob Elordi has starred in Priscilla and Saltburn, and then there's Sydney Sweeney’s recent onslaught of movies, including the box office success of Anyone But You. The stars' growing profiles are likely to help bring further notoriety to the already-viral show and keep fans like myself coming back to it.

Reports Claim Sam Levinson Is Planning For This Too

Interestingly enough, a theoretical time jump reportedly being put into action as well! According to a report from The Wrap, after Sam Levinson was delayed by last year’s WGA writers strike, he reportedly opted for the series to pick up after an unknown time jump following Season 2. And, in a fresh report, which also makes bombshell claims about Euphoria involving behind-the-scenes turmoil, it's alleged that Levinson is reportedly opting to jump the characters five years into the future for Season 3. 

Certainly, it all comes down to a good story, of course, though it's hard to say what that might be. Regardless, Euphoria Season 3 is indeed coming together at some point, as far as we know right now. But, for those who are frustrated about having to wait for what’s next, I hope these thoughts get you more excited about the wait, because I have a feeling it's going to be worth it! In the meantime, you can check out the first two with a Max subscription. 

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes brings Suzanne Collins’ dystopian world of Panem back to theaters after the Jennifer Lawrence-led films wrapped up in 2015 with the ending of Mockingjay - Part 2. Among the cast of the HG prequel, is a host of newcomers to the franchise, including Hunter Schafer. The rising actress plays a key role in the film and funny enough, revealed herself to be the biggest fan amongst her co-stars. And the reason for Schafer's fandom is so precious.

When CinemaBlend attended the Los Angeles press conference for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (which you can watch in full on our YouTube channel), the lead actors of the movie were asked to rank how into the original Hunger Games books and movies they were prior to being cast. While Rachel Zegler, Tom Blyth and Jose Andrés Rivera all were pretty into the franchise already before landing their roles, Schafer shared why she’s the biggest fan of the cast. In her words:

Hunter Schafer not only loved reading The Hunger Games books and movies, long before the prequel was among 2023’s book adaptations. The series even inspired her to create her own Halloween costume and make artwork inspired by the stories. If that’s not ultimate fandom, I don’t know what is! Schafer was 13 when the first Hunger Games movie was released and, over a decade later, she plays a Capitol person in the latest movie! When speaking to her role, Schafer shared the following sentiments: 

Tigris is the cousin to Coriolanus Snow and resides in the Capitol with him during the events of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. In the prequel, she assists Snow with his fashion and, down the line, she is appointed to become a stylist for the Hunger Games. Tigris then begins to get a number of surgical enhancements that transform her from the blonde-haired look Hunter Schafer channels to the character we meet in the original Hunger Games series. 

Eugenie Bondurant played the character in 2015’s Mockingjay - Part 2, where we learn that Snow apparently fired Tigris from her role in the Capitol and she opened her own shop. Tigris ends up helping Katniss, her friends and other refugees during the Rebellion the latter helps ignite and survives after Snow is overthrown. 

Hunter Schafer was cast as Tigris back in 2022 on the heels of being a major part of the cast of Euphoria, on which she plays Jules. The star is definitely talented, and moviegoers are sure to enjoy what she brings to this beloved mythlogy You can see Schafer in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes -- one of the biggest 2023 new movie releases -- which is now playing in theaters! And if you're as big a fan of the series as the actress is, you can stream the OG Hunger Games movies using a Hulu subscription.

Nearly a decade following The Hunger Games franchise concluding with the explosive Mockingjay ending, the film series continues this weekend with the dystopian world of Panem going backwards in time to the 10th Hunger Games. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes follows a much more primitive version of the games, but when the Hunger Games prequel’s cast imagined themselves in the arena, more cast members than you might expect were looking to the methods of one Peeta Mellark. 

When CinemaBlend attended The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Los Angeles press conference on Sunday, the cast of one of the most highly-anticipated upcoming book adaptations were asked about what their weapon of choice would be in the twisted fight to the death. Check out what each of them had to say (also in the video above): 

Hunter Schafer: “I’m gonna go with camouflage, cause I have a little experience with paint, so I feel like I could go Peeta on ‘em and, like, be a rock or something.”

Rachel Zegler: “Be a rock. I love it. I feel like I’d have to go the route of Lucy Gray. We were just talking about this earlier, as you do. And, I think I would have to win the affections of Panem and then hide and get a lot of sponsors so that I don’t die of hunger. But hide and wait everyone out.”

Tom Blyth: “I think I like in the movies, in the original franchise, when Peeta does the face paint. And, I like to think I could do that, but I definitely couldn’t. So, I probably would rely on my climbing skills, cause I’m pretty good at climbing, so I’d probably climb trees.”

Josh Andrés Rivera: “I would probably try to make friends with the strong boys. You know, and just see how far I can, like, kind of coast under their shoulders before they backstab me eventually. But you know, we’ll worry about that when we get there.”

Euphoria actress Hunter Schafer, who plays Snow’s cousin Tigris, went first and shared that she would be privy to trying Peeta Mellark’s special particular set of skills in the games: painting. As you may recall, Peeta’s family owned a bakery and he had some experience decorating cakes when he was chosen as District 12’s male tribute, so he decided to hone his skills for camouflage during the games. At one point, he hid by making himself look like a rock. Like so: 

After Schafer shared her chosen weapon of choice, Rachel Zegler, who plays the female District 12 tribute in the 10th Hunger Games, commented that she loved her answer. Then Tom Blyth, who plays a young Coriolanus Snow in the movie, also commended Peeta Mellark for his painting skills as well. Who knew there would be so much Peeta stanning amongst the new cast? He has long been dragged for being a weak character, or for being annoying, but not amongst the leads of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. 

However, only Schafer actually chose painting as her weapon of choice. Zegler felt that she aligns with her character Lucy Gray Baird, and would have to use her gift of charm and song to “win the affections of Panem.” While Blyth loved the idea of painting as a weapon, he shared that he’d make use of his “climbing skills” as his advantage. Rivera, on the other hand, would join a group of tributes until they inevitably turn on each other. 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes hits theaters this Friday, November 17. You can check out what critics are saying about the new Hunger Games film and read CinemaBlend’s own The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes review. 

Having dominated the gaming scene for decades, Nintendo is now making waves in the cinematic world. The Super Mario Bros. Movie smashed the $1 billion mark, claiming the title of the first 2023 movie release to do so, and Detective Pikachu left its mark with a respectable box office performance in 2019. Now the gaming giant is setting its sights on Hyrule with the announcement of a live-action Legend of Zelda in development. As fans eagerly anticipate the adaptation, Princess Zelda has become a hot topic for fan casting, with Euphoria actress Hunter Schaefer emerging as a favorite for the role. But could Schaefer actually take on the role? Here's what she had to say about potentially staring in the action movie.

At the premiere of Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes on Monday, the Euphoria star stole the spotlight in a stunning silver ensemble. ET seized the opportunity for a red-carpet interview with Schaefer, where she not only spilled details about her time as a member of the Hunger Games prequel cast but also addressed the growing fan excitement surrounding the casting of her in the titular role. In response, she expressed her enthusiasm, saying:

This isn’t even the first time the HBO veteran has heard of her fan-casting in the role. Before a Zelda movie was officially announced, ET informed the actress in 2022 about the growing online desire to see her in the part. Here is what she said then:

While Link takes center stage as the hero and playable character in the video game series, it's definitely possible to have an adaptation of the hit Nintendo franchise with the titular princess herself. Zelda is the royal heiress of the Hyrule kingdom and possessor of the Triforce of Wisdom. Although the casting details for the beloved Princess protagonist in the upcoming video game adaptation are still up in the air, Hunter would be an incredible pick.

The Belle actress stars in the highly anticipated Hunger Games prequel series, which takes place 64 years before the original saga started. A young Coriolanus Snow is the last flicker of hope for a lineage that's seen better days, navigating the murky waters of a declining post-war Capitol. His destiny takes a twist as he's thrust into the role of mentor for Lucy Gray Baird, portrayed by the talented Zegler, a tribute plucked from the depths of impoverished District 12, poised to take on the tumultuous 10th Hunger Games.

Whether or not Schaefer will land the coveted fantasy role, the actress can be seen next on the big screen as part of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes cast, where she takes on the role of Tigris Snow, Coriolanus Snow’s cousin, as the film hits theaters on November 17.

Stay tuned for the latest developments on The Legend of Zelda's cinematic journey; we'll keep you in the loop as news rolls in. Meanwhile, if you crave more Nintendo on the big screen, The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Detective Pikachu are available to stream with a Peacock subscription and Max subscription, respectively.

Nintendo has been a powerhouse in the video game industry for decades, but the past few years have seen the company shine in the cinematic space. The Super Mario Bros. Movie became the first 2023 movie release to cross $1 billion, and in 2019, Detective Pikachu performed respectably at the box office. Now Nintendo has announced it’s developing a live-action Legend of Zelda movie, and fans already have a favorite choice for who should star as the titular protagonist.

Although Link is the primary character one plays as in this video game series, obviously you can’t have a Legend of Zelda movie without Zelda herself, the princess of the Hyrule kingdom and owner of the Triforce of Wisdom. While we’re a ways off from learning who will bring Princess Zelda to life in this upcoming adaptation, arguably the most popular fancast for the role is currently Hunter Schafer. Starting off, here’s what @skyferrori had to say:

If you’re unfamiliar with Schafer, she is best known for playing Jules Vaughn in the popular HBO series Euphoria. The actress made her film debut last year in Belle, and she’ll soon be seen as part of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes cast in the role of Tigris Snow, Coriolanus Snow’s cousin. So she’s already made quite the name for herself in the last few years, enough that a lot of people are in agreement that she should play Princess Zelda, including @PARTYLEXDOOR:

Sometimes there are certain roles where many fans are in agreement about being the perfect fit for a specific role, and that’s what we have here with Hunter Schaefer and the live-action film adaptation of The Legend of Zelda. @kamkenobi commented:

With her blonde hair and facial features, Schaefer certainly does bare a striking resemblance to the way the character is traditionally depicted in the video games. Even though the Legend of Zelda movie has only recently been unveiled, enough people are already emotionally invested in this casting happening, with @flaccidraisin posting:

A handful of fans have also suggested pairing a Hunter Schafer-played Zelda with an Elliot Page-played Link, with the latter actor chiefly known these days for being one of the leads on Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy. As @MikeyG_Spot put it:

But wait, there’s a cherry to go on top of the proverbial sundae! Schaefer was being fancast as Zelda long before Nintendo announced this movie, and when Entertainment Tonight informed the actress in 2022 about fans wanting her to play the role and asked her if she’d be interested in this, she responded:

Of course, just because a lot of fans want to see Hunter Schafer play Zelda doesn’t mean it will happen, but perhaps this clamoring will at least lead to the creative minds behind the upcoming movie to explore the possibility of bringing her aboard. While it’ll likely be a while until any official casting announcements are made, The Legend of Zelda already has Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Wes Ball attached to direct, and Avi Arad from Sony’s Marvel franchises is producing.

We’ll pass along updates on how The Legend of Zelda’s development is coming along as they come in. For now, if you’re looking to enjoy cinematic Nintendo stories, The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Detective Pikachu can be respectively streamed with a Peacock subscription and Max subscription.

Teen dramas. You know ‘em, you love ‘em – or you hate ‘em. Depends on the day, am I right? 

I’m certainly in the love/hate category, because there are plenty of this genre that are the epitome of bad, and then there are some of the best teen dramas that are full of intriguing stories, such as The Vampire Diaries, Looking for Alaska, One Tree Hill and many more. But, there’s this one thing that I can’t get off my mind – the ages of the Euphoria cast. 

The show, which has been running since 2019 and has two seasons, takes place in a high school with Gen Z students, but the Euphoria cast’s ages are not even close that of high schoolers, except for one (at least when the show started). Today, we’re going to take a look at the actual ages of the cast, and compare them to who they play on the show.  

Zendaya (Rue Bennett): Actor Age – 26, Character Age – 17

First up on this list is obviously Zendaya, who plays Rue Bennett in Euphoria. The actress has especially been making a name for herself over the last few years, with plenty of appearances in movies such as Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Dune, and is also set to be in Dune 2 in 2023. 

Zendaya was 22 when she started filming the series. Now, she’s 26 – and turning 27 later in 2023. The character is 17, which means that by the time Euphoria Season 3 comes out (if we’re lucky enough to get it in 2024), Zendaya is going to be a whole ten years older than her high school counterpart. 

Granted, there have been rumors that the third season of the show is going to skip forward five years, but nothing has been confirmed.

Hunter Schafer (Jules Vaughn): Actor Age – 24, Character Age – 17

Next up is Hunter Schafer, who played Jules Vaughn, a transgender teenager who was the new girl in town in Season 1. Schafer was originally a model before becoming an actress, and she started Euphoria when she was still a young adult, just barely twenty – but now, she’s 24. 

Like Rue – and many of the other characters on this list – she is 17 in both seasons, as they take place over the course of the same year. That five-year time jump is looking even more likely now. 

Jacob Elordi (Nate Jacobs): Actor Age – 26, Character Age –18

Next up is Jacob Elordi, who plays Nate Jacobs, an abusive and toxic teenage boy who is the on again/off again boyfriend of Maddy, who we’ll get into in a bit. Elordi has certainly established himself as a “teen heartthrob” with the movies he has starred in before, such as The Kissing Booth series, but he is nowhere close to being his character’s age – he’s actually 26. 

Nate is 18 in the show, but, it seems that Elordi has stepped into more mature roles, with his leading part in the upcoming Priscilla. I’m sure we’re going to be seeing him as Nate again when Season 3 rolls around, however. 

Sydney Sweeney (Cassie Howard): Actor Age – 25, Character Age – 18

Sydney Sweeney is arguably one of the most successful actresses from the cast. She plays Cassie Howard, Lexi's sister, McKay’s ex-girlfriend, and later, girlfriend of Nate's girlfriend in Season 2. 

While she did appear in Everything Sucks!, The Handmaid’s Tale and Sharp Objects, it was her time on Euphoria that truly shot her to fame, leading to the massive popularity she has now. She’s been in The White Lotus cast for Season 1, and is going to be in Madame Web. 

Sweeney, like her co-stars, is nowhere close to her character’s age in the show, as in real life she is 25 (turning 26 later this year), while Cassie is 18.

Maude Apatow (Lexi Howard): Actor Age – 25, Character Age – 17

Moving on, Maude Apatow plays Lexi Howard, Cassie’s sister and a long-time friend of Rue's who reconnects with her down the line. The daughter of famous director, Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, she appeared in several films prior to her role in Euphoria, including Knocked Up, This is 40, and more. 

Apatow is actually 25 in real-life, turning 26 later in 2023, while her character is the same age as Rue and Jules, 17. 

Alexa Demie (Maddy Perez): Actor Age – Around 27, Character Age – 18

Moving on, we take a look at Alexa Demie, who plays Maddy Perez. While Maddy is confirmed to be 18, Demie’s age hasn't been fully revealed. An article from The New York Times in August 2019 listed her as 24, so that would make her 27 this year, but in an interview with InStyle in November 2019, she’s referred to as “almost 25” during a question that is asked of her. 

Granted, that could mean that her birthday was later on in the year, but since we're not entirely sure when it is, we can only guesstimate that she's about 27 now. Whatever the case, it means that Demie is certainly older than her Euphoria counterpart. 

Barbie Ferreira (Kat Hernandez): Actor Age – 26, Character Age – 17

While Barbie Ferreira isn’t going to be in Euphoria Season 3, her character, Kat Hernandez, is most certainly going to live on in the history of the story. Ferreira, who also began her time in Hollywood as a model before moving over into acting, has appeared in a variety of projects, including the Max original movie, Unpregnant and the Nope cast. 

Before all that, Ferreira was on Season 1 of the HBO hit, and her character was 17. However, she is actually 26 in real life, and going to be turning 27 later in 2023. 

Angus Cloud (Fez): Actor Age – 25, Character Age – 19

Fez is one of the most chill characters on Euphoria despite him being a drug dealer – which speaks volumes for the types of characters we interact with in this show. Either way, Fez is played by Angus Cloud, who is actually 25 in real life, while Fez is only 19. 

Storm Reid (Gia Bennett): Actor Age – 20, Character Age – 14

Last but not least is Storm Reid. The young actress has been in Hollywood for some time, appearing in projects such as When They See Us, The Invisible Man, Don’t Let Go and more, and in 2023, she had a guest role as Riley on The Last of Us. 

She plays Gia Bennett, Rue’s little sister. When the show originally filmed before its 2019 premiere, Reid was much closer to her character in age, who is only 14, as she was sixteen when the show came out. 

However, Reid is now twenty – and slowly inching her way up the line with the rest of her co-stars of not being an actual teen on a teen drama. 

While this isn’t necessarily new for anyone out there – we all know that teen dramas often use adult actors – it’s still interesting to see the comparison of ages. Now it sort of makes me want to watch teen shows that have actual teenagers in them, just to see the comparison between acting skills and style. Maybe I’ll go put on Heartstopper again.  

Euphoria Season 3 is finally almost here! After a four-year gap since the end of Season 2 in 2022, the show is returning in a few weeks as part of the 2026 TV schedule. It's a third season of the hit show that promised to be as hard-hitting and (at times) difficult to watch (in a good way), soon.

The show, which you can watch with an HBO Max subscription, was a huge hit in its first two seasons and made stars of the likes of Zendaya, Jacob Elordi (who is up for the Oscar for his role in Frankenstein), and Sydney Sweeney, among others.

Here is what we know so far about the upcoming Season 3 of Euphoria.

What Is The Euphoria Season 3 Premiere Date?

Season 3 of Euphoria is set to premiere on April 12, 2026, on HBO. By the time it premieres, it will have been more than four years since Season 2 ended. It will have been 1,427 days, but who's counting? Ok, we are!

Season 3 Trailer

One thing the trailer definitely confirms is that the season will take place a few years after the events of last season. It also looks like it will be every bit as harrowing as the first two seasons.

The Euphoria Season 3 Cast

Most of the main cast of Euphoria will be back, and there will be some new faces as well. Here is who we can confirm will be back:

Zendaya as Ruby "Rue" Bennett

Zendaya will return as Rue, the main character of Euphoria. She has won two Emmy Awards for her portrayal of the young woman. Zendaya has also appeared in several other movies, like the Dune franchise, Challengers, and the upcoming A24 film The Drama.

Eric Dane as Cal Jacobs

In a bittersweet development, Eric Dane, who died last month at age 53, will be returning in Season 3 as Cal Jacobs, who, in an interview with Variety, talked about whether Cal would get a redemption arc:

For fans of the star, this season of Euphoria will be one of the last time to say goodbye, so a redemption arc would be a beautiful thing.

Jacob Elordi as Nathaniel "Nate" Jacobs,

Golden Globe winner Jacob Elordi will return as Nate Jacobs, the star athlete who has serious anger issues and uses them to combat his own mental health problems. Elordi has appeared in several films lately, including Frankenstein, Priscilla, Saltburn, He Went That Way, and more.

Alexa Demie as Madeleine "Maddy" Perez

Alexa Demie will return as Maddy for Euphoria, the ex-best friend of Cassie Howard and Nate’s ex-girlfriend. She made a cameo appearance in The Idol, and appeared in other movies like Mainstream and Waves.

Hunter Schafer as Jules Vaughn

Hunter Schafer will return as Jules, Rue’s ex-lover. Schafer appeared in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, as well as the horror film Cuckoo from Neon Pictures.

Sydney Sweeney as Cassandra "Cassie" Howard

Sydney Sweeney will return as Cassie Howard, the younger sister of Lexi. Sweeney has recently appeared in Madame Web and starred in both Anyone But You and Immaculate.

There are several other actors from the Euphoria cast that are expected to return as well. These include:

Colman Domingo as Ali Muhammed

Colman Domingo will return for his Emmy Award-winning role as Ali in Euphoria Season 3. Domingo was recently nominated for the 2024 Academy Awards for Best Actor for his role in Rustin. Domingo has been everywhere lately, so it's great to see he'll be back here too!

Maude Apatow as Alexis "Lexi" Howard

Maude Apatow will return as Lexi in Season 3 of Euphoria. The actress has appeared in movies like The King of Staten Island and held a voice role in the series Pantheon.

Martha Kelly As Laurie

As seen in the trailer, it looks like Laurie could be an important part of the season, and she's really giving Breaking Bad vibes. Like, dark.

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje

We don't know who the newest cast member, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, will be playing, but based on the trailer, he definitely doesn't seem like a good guy. The Lost vet does, however, look like an intense character.

The rest of the cast that has been confirmed is:

• Chloe Cherry as Faye
• Nika King as Leslie Bennett
• Dominic Fike as Elliot
• Alanna Ubach as Suze Howard
• Paula Marshall as Marsha Jacobs
• Zak Steiner as Aaron Jacobs
• Sophia Rose Wilson as BB Brooks
• Marsha Gambles as Miss Marsha
• Toby Wallace as a new character

One of the cast members that we will not be seeing in Season 3 of Euphoria is Barbie Ferreira as Kat. According to her Instagram story (via The Hollywood Reporter), the actress decided to leave the show. Later on, Ferreira revealed in an interview with Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, that the real reason she left the series was that she felt that there was “nowhere” for Kat to go next in the season:

We also know from a red carpet interview with Rotten Tomatoes in November 2024 that Storm Reid, who played Rue’s little sister, will not be back for Season 3 of Euphoria, but that there’s no hard feelings and that she can’t wait to see what the cast has in store:

Unfortunately, Angus Cloud tragically passed in 2023, so Fez will not be back.

What Is Euphoria Season 3 About?

Obviously we'll have to wait to see what Euphoria Season 3 will focus on and what it could be about. But there are plenty of hints that have been passed around:

Expect A Time Jump Between Seasons

In an April 2023 interview with Vogue that one of the costume designers, Heidi Bivens, gave, she confirmed that she will do her best to make the outfits for the third season just as great, hinting that there have been talks of a “five-year” time jump:

This was further confirmed by an exclusive from The Wrap in March 2024 that the reason for the delay was that Levinson wished to move the story from high school to adulthood, and that HBO was giving him the time to do so and figure out the proper scripts. The Chief of HBO, Casey Bloys, even said in a statement to Deadline in November 2024 that fans should expect a time-jump.

Based on the trailer released for the show, these rumors have been confirmed, with Rue explaining that it's "been a few years since high school." The characters have all seemingly settled into adulthood (though "settled" looks pretty unsettling).

Season 3 Will Be Eight Episodes

Also confirmed from Bloys in that Deadline article above is that Season 3 of Euphoria will be eight episodes, which is the same amount as the second season, so at least we’re not losing any episodes. The sky is the limit, we'll just need to hold on for a few more weeks!

You can’t talk about Zendaya and her incredible sense of style without praising her longtime stylist and friend Law Roach as well. Along with the two-time Emmy winner, he has also styled her Euphoria castmates and other A-listers including Kerry Washington, Megan Thee Stallion and Issa Rae, to name a few. Over the years he has become a well-known stylist and fashion icon, and people love him and the looks he creates. So, when he announced his retirement seemingly out of nowhere, and right after styling multiple looks, including Hunter Schafer’s for the Oscars, fans were shocked. 

After posting all his fabulous looks from the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, including Hunter Schafer’s viral underboob feather look, Law Roach announced his retirement. He took to Instagram to let everyone know that he was done by posting a red “Retired” sign and writing: 

It really felt like this announcement came out of nowhere, because Roach let the world know he was retiring a couple of days after he styled, and posted about, multiple celebrities for the Vanity Fair Oscars party. He uploaded photos of Megan Thee Stallion, Kerry Washington, Hailee Steinfeld, Eve Jobs, and of course Hunter Schafer before posting about his retirement. 

Fans were shocked to find out Law Roach was leaving the business, and they took to Twitter to share their thoughts. Like, noah I was also shocked to hear the news, and related to their post:

Other fans were really sad that this retirement probably means we won’t see Zendaya and Law Roach working together anymore, alex captured my thoughts on this realization perfectly:  

While this news feel sudden, sam theorized that there must be a lot going on behind the scenes that built up to his retirement announcement. They wrote: 

In the tweet, they mention the “seat situation” which is referring to a Louis Vuitton fashion show where Zendaya was seated in the front row, and people speculated that when Roach wasn’t able to sit next to her in the front row he was livid. There were rumors that he left before the show started because he wasn’t able to sit there, according to Harpers Bazaar, and this retirement announcement comes right on the heels of this event. 

Many understood why Roach was seemingly upset about the situation, and how this could have been a final straw in a way. Move Hive retweeted the viral video and voiced their support for the stylist, writing:  

I totally get this user’s point, Law Roach’s collaboration with Zendaya is one of the major reasons she is one of the most fashionable celebrities, and he's not recognized as often as she is for them. It also makes sense that the “politics, the lies and false narratives” Roach deals with in the fashion industry would be hard to constantly be around.

Hopefully, this isn’t really the end. I know I look forward to seeing Law Roach and Zendaya’s looks every single time she walks a red carpet. She always rocks unique and trend-setting ensembles, like her edgy green dress from the NAACP Image awards, and she and her stylist always seemed to have a beautiful and collaborative relationship. To see that come to an end makes me really sad. 

Zendaya has two massive movies on the 2023 movie schedule, Dune: Part Two and Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers, so we know lots of red carpets and press tours are in her future, but based on Law Roach’s retirement announcement it seems like looks from him won’t be. Law Roach has truly left a massive mark on the world of celebrity fashion, and it’s such a bummer that the industry has treated him poorly, and he’s ready to leave. However, I’ll always hold out hope that someday he’ll return to create more immaculate looks.

Though no one who loves fashion really needs a reason to step out in their best on any particular day, it does seem that celebrities, especially, have more than enough special occasions which call for them to do exactly that. Such events just occurred over the weekend, as both the Academy Awards and the ever popular Vanity Fair Oscars after party took place, and led to some fabulous and daring fashions from famous folks we love to watch. Euphoria cast member Hunter Schafer was among them, and she wore one, rather large, feather as a top, delivering some major underboob.

How Did Hunter Schafer Wear A Feather As A Top?

There are a lot of fashionable people who love heading out in attention-grabbing outfits on a regular basis, and sometimes those people choose to wear items that show more skin than many of us would be comfortable with. While there were a number of bold 2023 Academy Award looks that will likely go down in the record books, including Halle Bailey’s sheer princess gown and Emily Ratajkowski’s see-through dress, Schafer might top the list in her all-white ensemble, which was more about an artfully (and carefully) placed feather than actual clothing:

Look, you’ll get no shade from me on this, because she looks great. And, while this is definitely a wild sartorial choice, I do think this is absolutely the classiest way to do a single feather as a top (as opposed to, say, using several belts as a top, like Julia Fox). For one thing, even with copious amounts of underboobage (more than Aubrey Plaza’s recent SAG Awards dress, I’d say), that feather really is just the right size. It’s giving the appropriate amount of shock value, while still leaving room for a bit of modesty, which is helped along by the tape or whatever is underneath that allows for full nipple coverage.

Secondly, everything else is kept extremely simple. Schafer’s hair is in simple, beachy waves that fall down her back, and the jewelry and makeup have been kept to a I-don’t-need-to-show-off minimum. This lets the feather top (the whole look is from avant-garde fashion house Ann Demeulemeester) do most of the talking. Shall we take a closer look at it? OK, how about a side-view…

As someone who can’t even keep a standard strapless bra where it’s supposed to be, I can’t help but wonder if this whole thing is taped or glued onto her body. Honestly, with that low-slung, mermaid-esque skirt, I’d be worried about both the top slipping and the skirt saying bye-bye-bye at some point during the night, and likely would have demanded that the safest, industrial level adhesives that could be used on one’s skin be applied on the top and bottom to keep all my personables from popping out. I don’t know if people dance at the Vanity Fair party, but could the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes star safely dance in this without accidentally ending up completely nude?

At any rate, while it’s entirely possible that we’ll see the actress in more underboob-bearing looks in the future, it’s unlikely that this is a top celeb watchers will see her wear multiple times, a la Cate Blanchett. Although, I wouldn’t knock it if she did pull this out of the back of her closet in a few years, and don’t think anyone else would, either.

The Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has begun casting its stars, and so far West Side Story breakout Rachel Zegler has been the biggest get. Well, not anymore. The latest addition to the upcoming 2023 movie is one of the fan-favorite stars of one of the biggest shows on television and streaming, Euphoria. Lionsgate has just announced they’ve cast Hunter Schafer in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and it’s for a key role to get excited about. 

Hunter Schafer has memorably played Jules in Euphoria for the two seasons of the hit HBO series. Jules is the love interest of Zendaya’s Rue and often at the center of the turmoil within the series. Per a Lionsgate press release, Schafer will play Tigris Snow, a young Coriolanus Snow’s cousin and confidante throughout the prequel. 

Aside from The Ballad of Songbird and Snakes filling the gaps regarding President Snow’s teen years ahead of his tyrannical rule of Panem, Tigris is the other key character in the Hunger Games prequel who was previously in the original books and films. Prior to becoming a main character in the prequel, Tigris was introduced in Mockingjay as a resident of the Capitol who used to be a designer for the Hunger Games (like Lenny Kravitz’s Cinna) and is sympathetic to Katniss’ rebel cause. Tigris helps her and the other rebels in a later moment in The Hunger Games storyline. 

For the character’s appearance in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, Eugenie Bondurant portrayed the character. She sat six hours in the makeup chair to achieve the look of the character, who undergoes surgeries later in life to look like a tiger: 

However, Schafer’s version of the character will be much younger than this version; specifically 21 years old, and she's described as having a long pointed nose, skinny body and golden brown eyes. In The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, she is working under the management of a fashion designer named Fabricia Whatnot, and is put through what's described as nearly slave labor.

Hunter Schafer joins Billy the Kid actor Tom Blyth, who will portray a young Coriolanus Snow, who we meet at a completely different place in his life than The Hunger Games trilogy. In The Ballad of Songbird and Snakes, we follow Snow mentoring a tribute from District 12 (the same home as Katniss Everdeen) during the 10th annual Hunger Games. He becomes mentor to a girl named Lucy Gray Baird (Zegler), who becomes a Capitol favorite thanks to her frequent song performances during the games.

The Ballad of Songbird and Snakes will be directed by Francis Lawrence, who previously helmed Catching Fire and both parts of Mockingjay within the Hunger Games movies. The movie is expected to start production in the near future ahead of an upcoming release date of November 17, 2023.

Certainly, HBO's Euphoria gained a lot of attention when it premiered last year. The celebrated and controversial HBO teen drama series is the latest project from Sam Levinson (Assassination Nation), based loosely on Israeli mini-series of the same name, and in its depiction of teenagers indulging in sex, drugs, friendships, and love, while also discovering their own identities in today's ever-changing tech-friendly era, has earned its fair of acclaim and notice for its raw, unflinching depiction of youth culture. 

Euphoria has been a major stepping stone for Zendaya, who won an Emmy for her outstanding lead performance, and it has boosted the profile of several key stars, including (but not limited to) Sydney Sweeney, Hunter Schafer, Barbie Ferreira, Alexa Demie, and Jacob Elordi.

While the wait for Season 2 has been extended due to the coronavirus pandemic, this delay might give more audiences a chance to catch up on what's considered both a sensational and sensationalized first season. If you find yourself wondering where you recognize this young ensemble, however, we're here to help. This is where you've seen the Euphoria cast before.

Zendaya (Rue Bennett)

Playing the part of Rue Bennett, a recovering addict who's trying to find her place in an uncertain world, Zendaya gave an Emmy-winning performance in the first season of Euphoria. As an actress, model, and back-up dancer, Zendaya has been forging a career in Hollywood from an early age, notably with her starring roles in Disney Channel's Shake It Up and K.C. Undercover. She gained even more prominence and fame, however, with her standout role as MJ in Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home, as well as her strong supporting role in The Greatest Showman.

In addition to these screen credits, Zendaya also lent her voice to Super Buddies, Duck Duck Goose, and Smallfoot (as Meechee, as you might very well be aware). Next, the actress will star in Dune, Malcolm & Marie, and the newest Spider-Man movie. She was also a contestant on Dancing with the Stars.

Sydney Sweeney (Cassie Howard)

In the role of Cassie Howard, Lexi's older sister with a sexual past that continues to haunt her, Sydney Sweeney found her star-making role in Euphoria. Prior to her noteworthy performance in this HBO series, Sweeney starred in Netflix's short-lived Everything Sucks! She also had a recurring role in The Handmaid's Tale, and she was seen in HBO's high-profile mini-series, Sharp Objects. The same year that Sweeney made a splash in Euphoria, she played a brief part in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood. Her other film roles include Under the Silver Lake, The Martial Arts Kid, and Along Came the Devil. She can be seen in episodes of The Middle, Kickin' It, Criminal Minds, Heroes, and Pretty Little Liars.

Earlier this year, Sweeney starred in Hulu's Big Time Adolescence, Clementine, and, most recently, Amazon Prime's Nocturne — the latter two as the lead.

Maude Apatow (Lexi Howard)

As Lexi Howard, Rue's childhood best friend, as well as Cassie's younger sister, Maude Apatow received her biggest role to date — TV or otherwise — in Euphoria. The eldest daughter of filmmaker Judd Apatow and actress Leslie Mann, Apatow made her first acting appearances in her father's films, Knocked Up, Funny People, and This is 40. Additionally, the actress appeared in a few episodes of HBO's Girls, which her dad produced. Her other screen credits include Pitch Perfect 2, Other People, The House of Tomorrow, Assassination Nation, and several episodes of Netflix's Hollywood.

Most recently, Maude Apatow appeared in Judd Apatow's latest film, The King of Staten Island, earlier this year. She also co-wrote and co-directed 2017's short film, Don't Mind Alice.

Alexa Demie (Maddy Perez)

Playing the part of Maddy Perez, the on-again, off-again girlfriend of Nate, Alexa Demie gives a standout performance in Euphoria. Prior to her time in this controversial HBO drama series, Demi was notably seen in the delightful Brisby Bear and Jonah Hill's Mid90s. She guest-starred in episodes of Ray Donovan, Love, and The OA. Additionally, the up-and-coming actress starred in a pair of short films, Miles and To the Moon, back in 2015 and 2017, respectively. During her time on Euphoria, Demie could be seen in A24's Waves. Most recently, Demie starred in Gia Coppola's Mainstream, alongside Andrew Garfield, which recently premiered at the Venice Film Festival back in September.

Next, Alexa Demie stars in the short film, Nineteen on Fire. In 2018, she also co-directed JMSN's music video for "Talk is Cheap."

Algee Smith (Christopher McKay)

As Christopher McKay, Cassie's football player boyfriend who's having trouble adjusting to the differences and difficulties of college, Algee Smith plays a notable role in Euphoria. Smith's professional acting career began in earnest in 2012; he appeared in shows like How to Rock, Army Wives, Let It Shine, Complications, Here We Go Again, and movies like Earth to Echo and Saints & Sinners. But Smith found his first brushes with fame in 2017 when he portrayed musician Ralph Tresvant in BET's mini-series, The New Edition Story. Additionally, that same year, Smith earned acclaim and notice for his performance in Kathryn Bigelow's Detroit.

In 2018, Algee Smith appeared in The Hate U Give and reprised the role of Ralph Tresvant in The Bobby Brown Story. Next, he'll be seen in Judas and the Black Messiah and Mother/Android. He's also rumored to star in the drama film, Young Wild Free.

Hunter Schafer (Jules Vaughn)

In the role of Jules Vaughn, a transgender girl who soon befriends Rue when she comes into town, Hunter Schafer gave an outstanding performance in the first season of Euphoria. This popular show serves as her acting debut, though she was also a fashion model for Dior, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Coach, Vera Wang, Marc Jacobs, Rick Owens, Helmet Lang, and several other brands. Schafer is also an outspoken LGBTQ+ rights activist and spokesperson.

Angus Cloud (Fezco)

As Feczo, a drug dealer in town with a close connection to Ruse, Angus Cloud is a key personality in Euphoria. His performance in Euphoria isn't merely the young actor's breakout role; it's also his first professional screen credit. Outside of this HBO series, viewers might only be familiar with Cloud through the new film, North Hollywood, which premiered in Los Angeles earlier this year. Indeed, as GQ noted, Cloud was essentially picked up off the street, and it'll be interesting to see where he goes as an actor following this show's continued success.

Barbie Ferreira (Kat Hernandez)

In the role of Kat Hernadez, a teenage girl who's exploring her sexuality, Barbie Ferreira played a noteworthy role in Euphoria Season 1. Prior to her role in this series, Ferreira was known primarily as a Brazilan-American model, appearing in promotional materials for Adidas, Forever 21, Target, H&M, Aerie, Asos, and more. It was Aerie's promotional materials, in particular, as well as a video interview from this campaign, that helped Ferreira find her fame. That said, Euphoria is quite easily her most well-known work to date, particularly as she only had episodes of HBO's Divorce and few short films on her resume prior to this main cast role. Earlier this year, Ferreira played one of the leads in HBO Max's road trip buddy comedy, Unpregnant.

Additionally, outside of acting, Barbie Ferreira starred in Vice's How to Behave. And she directed the music video for Dounia's "So Cool."

Eric Dane (Cal Jacobs)

Playing the part of Cal Jacobs, the father of Nate who keeps his own secrets from his family, Eric Dane provides the rare prominent older adult role in this teen-based drama. Outside of this latest high-profile part for the TV actor, Dane is best known for playing Dr. Mark Sloan, i.e. McSteamy, in nearly 140 episodes of Grey's Anatomy. He's also well-known for his recurring role in Charmed. Following his time on Grey's Anatomy, Dane found a leading part in TNT's post-apocalyptic action-drama series, The Last Ship, which ran for five seasons. He had notable appearances in films like Marley & Me, Valentine's Day, X-Men: The Last Stand, Feast, Open Water 2: Adrift, and Burlesque.

In addition to these performances, Eric Dane appeared in episodes of Saved by the Bell, The Wonder Years, Married... with Children, Roseanne, Silk Stalkings, and Private Practice, where he played McSteamy.

Storm Reid (Gia Bennett)

In the role of Gia Bennett, Rue's younger sister, Storm Reid plays a prominent supporting character in HBO's Euphoria. Prior to this key supporting part in this acclaimed HBO drama series, Reid was seen in the lead role in Disney's 2018 adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time. She starred in Don't Let Go, Netflix's mini-series When They See Us, and The Invisible Man earlier this year, and her performances in each of these productions received ample praise. Reid's other notable film credits include 12 Years a Slave, Sleight, A Happening of Monumental Proportions, and Lea to the Rescue. She also provides the voice of Nia in Hulu's new animated series, The Bravest Knight.

Additionally, Storm Reid appeared in episodes of Chicago P.D., NCIS: Los Angeles, Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn, and Adam DeVine's House Party. Next, she'll star in The Suicide Squad.

Jacob Elordi (Nate Jacobs)

As Nate Jacobs, a jock whose anger issues often mask his sexual insecurities, Jacob Elordi is a notable personality in Euphoria. Outside of this role, Elordi is most certainly known for playing Noah Flynn in Netflix's popular teen romance movies, The Kissing Booth and this year's The Kissing Booth 2. Additionally, the actor has an uncredited part in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, and he can be seen in Swinging Safari and The Mortuary Collection. Elordi starred in 2015's short film Carpe Liam, 2016's short film, Max & Iosefa (which he also co-wrote), and 2019's short film, Bad Dreams. On television, outside of Euphoria, he stars in The Bends.

Most recently, Jacob Elordi starred in 2 Hearts, which recently hit theaters. He was in The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee, which will be released in the U.S. in December. Next, Elordi stars in The Kissing Booth 3 and Deep Water.

Nika King (Leslie Bennett)

In the role of Leslie Bennett, the mother of Rue and Gia, Nika King is another prominent older adult persona in this teenager-based high school drama. A professional stand-up comedian in addition to being an actress, King appeared in episodes of CSI: Miami, Hanna Montana, All of Us, iCarly, Castle, NCIS, Glory Daze, Modern Family, Partners, 2 Broke Girls, NCIS: Los Angeles, Greenleaf, Best Friends Whatever, Stevie TV, and, most notably, the web series, Funny Married Stuff, which she also wrote for.

Her film credits include 50 First Dates, American Weapon, Noise Matters, B-Girl, Universal Remote, and Living the Dream. Suffice to say, her main cast role in Euphoria is easily her most high-profile performance.

Austin Abrams (Ethan Lewis)

As Ethan Lewis, Kat's love interest, Austin Abrahams plays a recurring role in HBO's Euphoria. The former child actor has appeared in a variety of films and shows throughout his early career, though he's best known for playing Ron Anderson in the fifth and sixth seasons of AMC's The Walking Dead. In addition to this role, Abrams played the male lead in Amazon Prime's Chemical Hearts earlier this year. He starred in Paper Towns, Brad's Status, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, All Summers End, Tragedy Girls, Puzzle, Dude, We Don't Belong Here, and The Kings of Summer.

Additionally, Austin Abrams has a recurring role in NBC's This is Us. He was also seen in episodes of The Inbetweeners, Silicon Valley, Shameless, SMILF, and The Americans. Next, he'll play one half of the titular duo in Netflix's Dash & Lily, which arrives on November 10th.

Do you love HBO's Euphoria? Who is your favorite cast member? Let us know in the comment section below!