Over the last few months, the buzz around Euphoria Season 3 has been as intense as one of Rue’s chaotic monologues. HBO’s bold, teen drama — known for its raw storytelling and emotional gut punches has defined a generation. Zendaya’s haunting, Emmy-winning portrayal of Rue turned the show into an instant cultural phenomenon. Now, with the next season reportedly in development, fans are bracing themselves for another round.
But here’s the thing — as much as Euphoria feels unstoppable, its future beyond Season 3 looks pretty shaky. Between real-life tragedies, creative tensions, and stars outgrowing their teenage alter egos, the show might be nearing its last glitter-dusted gasp.
So, here’s a closer look at six reasons Euphoria could be doomed after Season 3 — and why that might not be such a shock after all.
1. Eric Dane’s ALS Diagnosis Brings Worry to the Euphoria Team
Sometimes, real life drops a plot twist no writer could ever imagine. Eric Dane — the man who brought Cal Jacobs’ chaos and complexity to Euphoria — recently revealed that he’s been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Dane shared (via People),
I have been diagnosed with ALS. I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.
At 52, the actor still plans to keep doing what he loves. He further added,
I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to set of Euphoria next week.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a cruel, degenerative condition. It gradually robs people of muscle control. There’s no known cure. Most patients live three to five years after diagnosis, and some fight for much longer (via Muscular Dystrophy Association).
For fans, Dane’s announcement hit like a gut punch. Cal Jacobs isn’t just another flawed dad on TV. He is one of Euphoria’s emotional anchors.
Now, with Dane’s diagnosis, the show faces an uncertain future. How do you fill the space left by a character so vital? You don’t, really. You just feel it. Because Euphoria without Cal Jacobs might just be like a party without the drama — beautiful, sure, but missing that edge that made it unforgettable.
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2. Barbie Ferreira’s Exit Leaves a Hole in the Euphoria Universe
Kat Hernandez was in a league of her own. She was bold, messy, and so very confident. She was out there secretly typing fanfic like it was her superpower. But sadly, Barbie Ferreira, who brought Kat’s spark to life, decided to step away before Season 3. And fans are still not over it.
On Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, Ferreira cleared the air about her exit. She said (via Variety),
I kind of got sucked into this drama that I never asked to be in and that I’ve never talked about. I’m of the mindset that if it doesn’t exist, I’m not going to address it because then I’m adding fuel to it.
That quiet grace says a lot. But we did see that Kat’s storyline faded into the background in Season 2. Rumors flew — whispers of creative clashes with Sam Levinson, even talk of her walking off set — though Ferreira has never confirmed any of it.
Whatever went down, her absence will be deeply felt. Kat wasn’t just makeup and attitude — she was the show’s rebellion in human form, a walking reminder that self-worth doesn’t need validation. Without her, Euphoria loses a piece of its soul.
3. Angus Cloud’s Passing Took Away a Piece of Euphoria’s Heart
Angus Cloud’s death at the age of 25 was heartbreaking. The actor passed away from an accidental overdose. He played the role of Frezco, who was the chill drug dealer. This incident left fans and castmates completely shattered.
What made Cloud special was that he wasn’t really acting — he was just being. Discovered on a Manhattan street with zero acting experience, Sam Levinson saw something real in him. And he was right. Fezco wasn’t just another character caught in East Highland’s chaos; he was the calm in the storm, the quiet voice that somehow made Rue’s madness feel survivable.
Behind that soft smile, though, Cloud carried his own battles. After a brain injury at 15, he was prescribed opioids — a struggle that followed him for life. It makes his warmth on screen even more powerful, knowing the pain he was fighting off-camera.
His death left a hole no storyline can patch up. Fez was Euphoria’s moral compass. He was flawed but pure, dangerous but good-hearted. Without him, the show feels emptier and less human.
4. Jacob Elordi Hates “Being a Character to the Public”
Jacob Elordi may play one of Euphoria’s most unhinged characters, Nate Jacobs, but off-screen, fame itself has been his biggest villain. Before landing roles in The Kissing Booth and Euphoria, Elordi admitted he was “sleeping in his car … for a couple of weeks” (via GQ) and struggling to make ends meet. Then, fame hit him like a tidal wave.
He’s been candid about how disorienting the whole experience was. He said in 2022,
I hated being a character to the public. I felt so far from myself.
That raw honesty is part of what makes Elordi so relatable and human. Fans often project Nate’s toxic traits onto Jacob himself, forgetting there’s a real person behind the character’s icy glare. And let’s be honest — if you’ve ever played a jerk at work or in a play, you know how annoying it is when people actually think that’s you.
Some fans even voice sympathy online on Reddit. One fan wrote,
Does anybody else kind of feel bad for Jacob Elordi? … the amount of backlash his character receives is kind of overwhelming.
He’s got a point. There’s only so long someone can keep playing a walking red flag before wanting a little peace. So, you never know. He might walk away from this show to pursue bigger blockbuster roles, which won’t make him the villain.
5. Sydney Sweeney’s Stardom Could Outshine the Rest of the Cast
Sydney Sweeney is living the Hollywood dream. From The Handmaid’s Tale to Euphoria to The White Lotus, she’s built a résumé that screams range. Two Emmy nominations in one year? That’s not luck — that’s pure grind and glow.
Her career has clearly outgrown the high school halls. These days, she’s producing her own films. She is headlining blockbusters. And she is owning red carpets like they’re her personal runway. And while that’s a huge win for Sydney, it does put Euphoria in a tricky spot.
Her character, Cassie Howard, was already teetering between heartbreakingly real and just plain chaotic in Season 2. Now, with Sweeney’s rising fame, keeping Cassie relatable might be harder than ever. The more Sweeney shines, the smaller East Highland starts to feel.
It’s funny, really — Cassie spent an entire season crying over a boy, and Sweeney’s out here signing movie deals and rewriting her own destiny. Hollywood wants her, and it’s calling loudly. Between packed film schedules and global stardom, those mirror monologues might just have to wait. Cassie’s crying in her bathtub, but Sydney Sweeney? She’s out there conquering the world — mascara smudge-free.
6. Zendaya May Have Outgrown Her High School Days
Zendaya has spent years perfecting the art of playing teenagers in turmoil. Between Euphoria’s Rue Bennett and Spider-Man’s MJ, she’s mastered the “smart, damaged, emotionally complex high schooler” archetype. But even she’s starting to crave something new.
In a Vogue interview, Zendaya laughed about her endless high school roles. She said,
I’m always in a high school somewhere. And, mind you, I never went to high school.
Her 2024 film Challengers, directed by Luca Guadagnino, gave her that escape — playing a tennis prodigy turned mother in her early 30s. She admitted that it was refreshing, but “it was also kind of scary.” She further added,
I was like, I hope people buy me as my own age, or maybe a little bit older.
Zendaya isn’t just playing the game anymore. She is running it. With Emmys, blockbuster hits, and power moves behind the scenes, she’s clearly outgrown Euphoria’s high school chaos. After playing a mother, a style icon, and a tennis star, slipping back into Rue’s hoodie feels like trying on your old uniform. Nostalgic, but definitely too small now.
Her real-life, beautiful romance with Tom Holland keeps her in the public eye, too. Their marriage rumors only add that she’s ready for the next chapter. Euphoria might just lose its star to, well, adulthood.
So, what do you think? Is Euphoria really doomed after season 3? Let us know in the comments.
