Warning: This article contains spoilers for Euphoria.
Actor Javon Walton teases the future of Ashtray in Euphoria season 3. Walton plays Ashtray in the series, the adoptive brother of Fezco, both of whom are involved in dealing drugs, which has put both of their lives in jeopardy. Ashtray was abandoned by his mother to Fezco and Fezco's grandmother, Marie, who was also a drug dealer before becoming incapacitated. Fezco helped raise Ashtray, much as he was raised by his grandmother, teaching him to be a dealer and survive the lifestyle.
In Euphoria season 2, Ashtray is seen as an enforcer of sorts, at one point beating a captured Cal (Eric Dane) when he comes to inquire about his son, Nate (Jacob Elordi), who is attacked by Fezco earlier in the season. Ashtray also kills another dealer, Mouse, and at the finale of Euphoria season 2, it turns out that Mouse's partner, Custer, attempts to set up Fezco by implicating him in the murder. Ashtray reacts by stabbing Custer, just before a SWAT teams bursts in. Hiding in the bathroom and armed with multiple guns, Ashtray attacks the police, accidentally shooting Fez, and is seemingly killed off-camera.
Talking to EW, Walton discusses the outcome of the Euphoria season 2 finale, particularly his and Fezco's fate. Walton believes that Fezco survived the ordeal (although Fez was originally supposed to die), as he was carried away by police in handcuffs, but isn't positive that Ashtray is dead. The actor states that viewers "saw absolutely no blood" and that they "didn't see him fall," let alone get shot. Ultimately, he feels there's still a chance that Ashtray could be alive. Here's his full quote:
Well you see him get arrested, so I'm sure he is going to be in the back of a cop car. And with Ashtray, we're not a 100 percent if he's dead, because you saw absolutely no blood, right? And you didn't see him fall. You did hear the bullet, but you didn't see him get shot. So, there's little things that could potentially bring him back for another season.
Walton was recently cast in The Umbrella Academy season 3, which he'll begin work on soon. However, the actor expressed his hope for Ashtray if he ends up surviving his ordeal, saying, "I hope he realizes that drugs isn't the right path for him." Walton believes that if Ashtray survives into Euphoria season 3, he should "just focus on himself" as he'd be given "another chance at life." The actor believes that Ash has a lot to live for, ultimately, despite the difficult road that's been paved for him. Walton also says that he can't wait for Euphoria season 3 to begin production, as he's excited for fans to see it when it's done, again signaling hope that Ashtray may return.
Although a 13-year-old boy in Euphoria, Ashtray is seen committing multiple criminal acts, from drug dealing, to assault, and murder, which makes it difficult to root for him, even if just a child. It's a tricky scenario, as he's a product of his environment and never really had a chance, but the devastation left in his wake can't be glossed over. The trauma, rage, and violent tendencies would surely only escalate for Ashtray as he grows older, and it would take a complete lifestyle change with proper care and mentoring to steer him from the troubled waters he's lived in his whole life. It will be interesting to see how Euphoria showrunner Sam Levinson addresses Ashtray's life if he survives Euphoria season 2, as a return to the norm would only create a monster.
Source: EW