Everything about ‘Euphoria’ season 2: Characters, dates, and more

In an era seeming like everything on a streaming service, HBO’s Euphoria dazzled TV fans with its real look at high school. It deals with the added pressures & problems facing today’s teens like no other show in the last decade has. Its authenticity & racy high school storylines made it a fan favorite on the premium cable channel. 

HBO Max’s entrance into the streaming wars, as one of the many streaming services released during the Coronavirus pandemic, made the show accessible for all audiences. Even though Euphoria didn’t get a nomination for Best Drama Series, its lead Zendaya was nominated & won her first Emmy award for the character Rue.

Even during the pandemic, HBO premiered a COVID special because of the show’s inability to produce a second season because of COVID-19 related production delays. In August, Zendaya confirmed the production team behind Euphoria is trying to get season two off the ground. 

She explained to the guest host of Jimmy Kimmel Live, Ben Platt, “We’re trying to figure out how to eventually be able to create a season two that we’re all really proud of and get all the best out of it that we want, but also still being very safe.” HBO renewed the series back in 2019 after the immediate success of season 1. While the network hasn’t announced a release or production date, here is everything we know about season 2. 

here we go !!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/Qyf0fzEAdk

— euphoria (@euphoriaHBO) March 11, 2020

Release date

Back in March, Euphoria released photos from their season 2 table read on social media. At the time, the show was looking at an early 2021 release date for season 2. Since we are already in December and production has not happened, it’s safe to say we won’t be getting season 2 for quite some time. 

HBO’s president Casey Bloys confirmed Euphoria is now looking at starting production on season 2 in early 2021. Unlike Succession, Euphoria does not have an announced release date. Bloys confirmed Succession would return in late fall, so it is likely Euphoria returns around the same time. Both shows are only ten episodes long, but Succession already started production, so it’s more likely season 2 won’t come out until November or December.

Cast

Obviously, Zendaya isn’t going to leave the show that won her first Emmy, made her the youngest winner for Best Actress in a Drama, and only the second Black woman to win. But outside of Zendaya, Euphoria is keeping its ensemble cast. There will also be a new face in season 2. 

Breakout star Kelvin Harrison Jr. from Waves is joining Euphoria’s cast for season 2. Harrison is coming off nominations from the Independent Spirit Awards & for BAFTAs Rising Star Award. Harrison explained to Variety, he wanted to join the cast for season 1, but “things didn’t really go that way. Suddenly, all the stars aligned, and I got to be there.”

Only one actor left Euphoria during season 1. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Brian ‘Astro’ Bradley left while filming the pilot due to the show’s sexually-explicit nature. The article said the actor was uncomfortable with some of the scenes not in the original script and his character’s experimentation with homosexuality. 

Why for delays 

COVID-19 is why many TV shows were delayed or canceled in 2020, many because of the complex challenges with shooting during a pandemic – this was the case with Netflix’s Glow. Euphoria has the added challenge of sex scenes – one of the many things the industry will have to change after the pandemic is over. 

While there is light at the end of the tunnel because a vaccine is getting approved, it’s not an end all be all solution. COVID-19 will have a drastic effect through 2021, and there might be a chance season 2 won’t come out until early 2022. We love how bold, authentic, and raw Euphoria is, and we don’t want the show to change because of COVID-19. 

So until Euphoria makes its glorious return remember to wash your hands, stay six-feet apart, listen to your local health officials, and wear a mask when in public. 

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What do you think will happen to Rue in Euphoria season 2? Let us know in the comments.