Reports of Zendaya's massive new deal are an indication that Euphoria is heading in a positive direction. A show centered around American teenagers as they struggle with sex, drugs, and violence, Euphoria is far from a typical teen drama. The show stars Zendaya as Rue Bennett, a recovering addict, as she struggles with her many conflicting expectations and desires while touching on many often-depressing themes.
Given that Euphoria season 3 hasn't started filming yet, the future of the show has seemed uncertain for some time. Yet a massive new deal reported by Matthew Belloni from Puck could indicate a bright direction for the show. With Zendaya expected to be taking in close to $1 million per episode, HBO is putting massive resources into the future of Euphoria. Check out Belloni's quote below:
"A bunch of stars have cracked $1 million per episode, especially on limited series (Michael Keaton on Hulu’s Dopesick, Elisabeth Moss on Apple’s Shining Girls) or even ongoing series (Jason Sudeikis on Ted Lasso, Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren on 1923; Chris Pratt on The Terminal List), and especially when producing fees are factored in. I’m told Zendaya just closed a big re-negotiation on HBO’s Euphoria that likely puts her close to that club."
When Is Euphoria Season 3 Coming?
How much Zendaya is paid may not appear too important for the average viewer, yet it indicates that Euphoria season 3 is still progressing, and the star will certainly be heavily involved. While early reports indicated that Euphoria's next season would come in early 2024, it is now likely that the delayed filming will result in a late 2024 or early 2025 release window. It doesn't even appear that the cast is aware of what next season will look like, as Storm Reid still hopes that the Euphoria season 3 will be "less heartbreaking."
Euphoria season 3 was initially delayed due to Zendaya's involvement in Dune: Part Two. With the actor spending much of Euphoria's filming window on set for another project, Euphoria needed to be pushed aside for the time being since Rue remains its de facto main character. Now, with her incredible Euphoria deal, Zendaya will have more than enough incentive to prioritize Euphoria going forward. Additionally, HBO's willingness to shell out more money indicates the network hopes to keep Euphoria on air for a while.
While Zendaya will be appearing in Dune: Part Two and Challengers, she is not currently involved in any other announced productions, save for a role as a producer on A White Lie. Euphoria season 3 appears to be her next major project, which is a perfect sign for the future of the show, especially with Zendaya hoping that season 3 will allow Rue the chance to live and love. Whether Reid and Zendaya get the happy ending that they want remains to be seen when Euphoria season 3 eventually releases.
Source: Matthew Belloni/Puck