The future of Euphoria season 4 is still undecided, which feels about right for a show that has never specialized in emotional certainty.
After the HBO drama’s season three finale, fans were left asking whether the series has quietly reached the end of the line. The question is understandable. The show, led by Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Hunter Schafer, Alexa Demie, Maude Apatow and Jacob Elordi, had already spent years offscreen between its second and third seasons. That long pause was more than a scheduling headache.
Why the long break changed the stakes
Series creator Sam Levinson told Variety in April that several practical issues slowed the show’s return, including the Hollywood strikes and the challenge of coordinating a cast whose calendars have become, politely, crowded.
“There were obvious factors, the strikes, trying to make a schedule work with our very in-demand cast,” Levinson said, “but the real time was in trying to figure out how to find a way to pay respect to those who we lost.”
Those losses shaped the production. Angus Cloud, who played Fezco, died in 2023 from an accidental overdose during the actors and writers strike. Then, shortly before the season three premiere earlier this year, Eric Dane died following a battle with ALS.
Levinson said those losses made him want to “deliver a f--king slam dunk” with the third season. “I want to finish this as strong as I can,” he said.
What Sam Levinson and HBO have said
Levinson has not announced plans for another season. In fact, he said he currently has “no plans” for a fourth. Still, he also noted that he approaches “every season like it’s the last season,” which leaves just enough room for fans to speculate.
HBO is not closing the door either. HBO CEO Casey Bloys told Deadline in January that the network still needs to hear where Levinson is creatively.
“We need to find out what Sam is thinking, what he wants to do creatively either with the show, with his life,” Bloys said. “I don’t know exactly what he wants to do next, so that’ll be a conversation with him.”
That leaves the series in familiar TV limbo: not renewed, not canceled, and very much dependent on whether its creator sees another chapter worth making.
Which cast members might return
Several cast members have suggested they would follow Levinson’s lead if the story continues.
Sydney Sweeney, who plays Cassie Howard, told Variety in October that she would be open to returning if the characters still have somewhere to go.
“If there are more stories to tell within our characters' worlds, then of course,” Sweeney said. “I love Cassie.”
Jessica Blair Herman, who joined season three as Heather, Cassie’s suburban housewife friend, offered a similar answer during an April appearance on Good Day New York.
“It's up to Sam,” Herman said. “He has this vision and wherever it takes him, it takes him. And if you're lucky to be a part of it, then it's a dream come true.”
It is a careful answer, but also a realistic one. At this point, a fourth season depends less on who wants to come back and more on whether Levinson and HBO decide there is a story strong enough to justify it.
Why Jacob Elordi would not be part of it
If Euphoria does return, one major character would not be coming with it. Jacob Elordi’s Nate Jacobs was killed off in the penultimate episode of season three.
Elordi described the ending as “bittersweet” in a behind-the-scenes segment following the May 24 episode. He also reflected on how much the role had meant to him.
“This show is a massive part of, not just my career, but my life,” he said. “It’s been amazing and I’m so proud of being a part of this.”
For viewers, Nate’s death marked a major shift in the show’s world. For Elordi, it appears to be a clean goodbye, at least unless television suddenly discovers flashbacks. Television has, in fact, heard of those.
Zendaya says closure is coming
Zendaya, who stars as Rue Bennett and also serves as an executive producer, has sounded more ready to let the series rest.
During an April appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, she was asked whether season three would be the show’s last. Her answer was simple: “I think so, yeah.”
“That closure is coming,” she added.
Still, Zendaya made clear that Rue remains one of the defining roles of her life.
“It cracked my heart open,” she said. “Rue taught me so much about empathy and about redemption. She taught me a lot, and I'm very grateful for all of it.”
That may be the emotional center of the uncertainty around Euphoria. The show has been chaotic, controversial and often painful to watch, but for its cast and audience, it also became a story about survival, damage and whether people can still reach for something better.
For now, HBO has not confirmed Euphoria season 4. Levinson has no firm plan, some cast members are open to returning, others have said goodbye, and Zendaya seems to believe the ending is near. In other words, the show’s future is unresolved, but not entirely closed.
