Zendaya Clarifies Euphoria Delay Has Nothing to Do With Her Schedule

Zendaya has been booked and busy — but she’s waiting for Euphoria to start filming just like everyone else.

“I will say, I have been off for a couple years,” Zendaya, 28, told Vanity Fair in an interview published on Wednesday, November 13, when asked about the show’s future. “[Euphoria is] not delayed because of my … I’ve been open, just waiting.”

The actress said she’s “been waiting” for updates on the hit HBO series, adding, “I’m actually going to start filming a project soon before Euphoria, and I’m like, ‘Man, I’m rusty. I haven’t been on a set in, like, two years almost.’ I’m a little bit terrified. I’m like, ‘Can I even do this anymore?’ I don’t know.”

According to Zendaya, the plan is to start filming Euphoria in early 2025.

“[Euphoria] is slated for January, I believe. I haven’t read anything yet, but I’m excited to see what everyone has been working on, and what the future looks like for Euphoria,” she shared. “I don’t really have much of an answer except for right now it’s set to start shooting in January.”

Zendaya continued: “My most important thing is to do justice by the people who love and care about Rue, and make sure that she’s looked after as a character. I think that’s my No. 1 duty.”

Euphoria, which premiered in 2019, follows troubled high school student Rue (Zendaya) as she struggles to remain sober after rehab. The ensemble cast includes Hunter Schafer, Alexa Demie, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, Maude Apatow, Colman Domingo and more.

Euphoria was quickly renewed for a second season after its premiere, but it took nearly three years for the episodes to air, with HBO ordering two individual specials about the aftermath of Rue and Jules’ (Schafer) breakup in the meantime.

The third season was originally set to air on HBO in 2025 before it faced several delays, including creator Sam Levinson’s commitment to his short-lived series The Idol. The delay was extended during the dual WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which took place in late 2023.

“We’ve been through strikes before, you know, they increase the cost,” HBO CEO Casey Bloys said in November 2023 about production costs potentially increasing as a result. “I don’t see a scenario where I go, ‘Well, I was going to make another tentpole show, but now I’m not going to because we have to pay X amount more.’ I don’t think it works like that.”

Production was ultimately delayed again without an official start date. “HBO and Yana Grebenyuk Sam Levinson remain committed to making an exceptional third season,” a spokesperson for the network told Us Weekly in March. “In the interim, we are allowing our in-demand cast to pursue other opportunities.”

It has since been confirmed that Euphoria will start production in early 2025. Season 3 is expected to address the fate of Fezco, played by the late Angus Cloud, who died in July 2023 at age 25 following an accidental overdose. His costars — including Zendaya — paid tribute to the actor shortly after his death.

“Words are not enough to describe the infinite beauty that is Angus (Conor). I’m so grateful I got the chance to know him in this life, to call him a brother, to see his warm kind eyes and bright smile, or hear his infectious cackle of a laugh (I’m smiling now just thinking of it),” she wrote via Instagram in August 2023. “I know people use this expression often when talking about folks they love…’they could light up any room they entered’ but boy let me tell you, he was the best at it. I’d like to remember him that way. For all of the boundless light, love and joy he always managed to give us. I’ll cherish every moment. My heart is with his mother and family at this time and please be kind and patient as grief looks different for everyone.”