Euphoria will be without one of its central characters for the upcoming third season. Storm Reid, who portrayed Gia Bennett, Rue’s (Zendaya) younger sister, confirmed in a red-carpet interview with Rotten Tomatoes at the 2024 Governors’ Ball that she would not return for the new season. “Unfortunately, Gia’s not returning for the third season, but I’m so, so indebted to the cast and crew of that show, to HBO,” Reid shared. “Euphoria is a really special thing, and I’m so glad that’s a part of my legacy.”
Her departure has disappointed some fans, especially with Gia’s storyline being a notable part of the show’s emotional depth. There has been speculation that the series may face challenges due to controversies surrounding the show and its creator.
In 2023, Euphoria also mourned the loss of Angus Cloud, who portrayed Fezco. His passing deeply affected fans and the cast, and it remains unclear how the show will appropriately and sensitively handle his absence in the upcoming season. Additionally, Barbie Ferreira, who played Kat, exited the show after the second season. In a 2023 podcast interview, she explained her departure, saying, “I think there were places [Kat] could have gone… I really wanted to be able to not be the fat best friend. I don’t want to play that, and I think they didn’t want that either. I don’t know if it was going to do her justice, and I think both parties knew that.”
While Euphoria fans continue to discuss these departures, the show’s creator, Sam Levinson, has also faced his own controversies. These include allegations of violating SAG-AFTRA mandates for background performers, accusations of hypersexualizing teen characters, and instances where performers felt uncomfortable with the amount of nudity in the scripts. Levinson’s 2023 HBO series The Idol, starring The Weeknd, was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews and reports of on-set controversies. His 2021 film, Malcolm & Marie, also received criticism for its treatment of systemic racism and its portrayal of Blackness.
Amidst these challenges, Storm Reid is continuing to build her career. The actress recently won an Emmy Award for her guest appearance as Riley in HBO’s The Last of Us, where she portrayed Ellie’s (Bella Ramsey) love interest. Reid will also star in Teyana Taylor’s directorial debut, Get Lite, produced by Paramount Pictures.
Filming for Euphoria Season 3 is slated to begin in January 2025, according to HBO/Max Chairman and CEO Casey Bloys. The second season of Euphoria premiered three years ago in January 2022, leaving fans eagerly questioning what comes next.
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