Kori Barnes 
The latest update from the hit series “Euphoria” is something that fans didn’t quite expect. Season 3 of the edgy drama was confirmed for a renewed season last year, but now the release of the anticipated new season has now been pushed back even farther.
Fans will have to wait nearly three years for their favorite actors in the hit HBO series to return to their screens again, with a hopeful release in 2025. Although, this isn’t necessarily what the creators and actors of “Euphoria” would want. Deadline reported that HBO executive Francesca Orsi mentioned that all writing at the network has been paused due to the WGA writer’s strike, and that also includes “Euphoria.” The show’s creator Sam Levinson was pulling double-duty on the teen drama alongside his newest endeavor, “The Idol” — which stars Lily-Rose Depp and Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd).
The WGA (The Writer’s Guild of America) strike for more pay has caused the halt of numerous fan-favorite shows from production. However, this writer’s strike is a message and symbol for all the underpaying writers who dedicate their craft to our favorite shows and that they are expressing how unappreciative they feel with compensation. According to Deadline, “‘Euphoria’ is one of those that we had begun writing in tandem with post-production on “Idol” but at this point, we don’t have countless scripts,” Orsi said. “We can’t start shooting, so the delivery of that show — ideally in 2025 — will be determined on when we can pick back up with Sam, who at this point is all pencils down and just finishing posts on ‘Idol.’”
Not only is Levinson occupied with his new show “Idol,” but leading star on “Euphoria,” Zendaya, has since been casted in numerous A-list films that can affect the shooting schedule of the series. Although this isn’t the first time “Euphoria” has had a delay with production, this will certainly be the longest waiting time for fans to receive a potential new series. The article noted that other hit shows on HBO, such as “The Last of Us” and “White Lotus,” and the “Game of Thrones” prequel “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” have also been put on pause thanks to the strike. Fans of “House of the Dragon” may see episodes in 2024.
“While everything at this moment is pencils down, I’m hopeful that we can come to terms sooner than later,” Orsi continued. “Otherwise we will have to assess what is the end of the ’24 schedule, what are the shows that are going to be delivered for 2025.”
Hopefully, the tentative release date could be pushed farther in advance. However, with the state of the WGA strike, we don’t know the fate of some fan favorite series just yet.
By Kori Barnes, University of Southern California
Instagram: @korixnicole
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