Why Zendaya Should Not Return to ‘Euphoria’

It’s Zendaya’s world. To say that the actress has been on fire for the last two years would be an understatement. She’s starred in some of the biggest blockbusters in recent memory while slaying every red carpet she graces (including this year’s Met Gala where she served as co-chair).

Yet, with all of this momentum, HBO just confirmed that production will indeed pick up again for “Euphoria.” The Zendaya-starring vehicle became a dominant force in the TV landscape when its first season aired in 2019, scooping up awards, bringing in major ratings for HBO, launching its entire leading cast (Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, Hunter Schafer, and more) into superstardom and more.

But the series has only produced two seasons in the six years since 2019, with constant rumors of disruption behind the scenes and numerous delays leaving many to wonder if we need a season 3 of “Euphoria” at all.

More importantly, does Zendaya need “Euphoria” anymore?

Of course, “Euphoria” was an important stepping stone in Zendaya’s skyrocketing career. The former Disney star’s dive into the gritty HBO drama was a revelation at the time, helping her transition from the child star an entire generation of kids grew up watching to a force in dramatic acting.

Her turn as Rue Bennett, a teenaged recovering drug addict, earned her two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, making her the youngest two-time Emmy winner in the show’s history.

Despite the critical acclaim and numerous accolades she received for her turn on the show, it’s been a minute since “Euphoria” was on our screens. Nearly three years since season 2, season 3 is only set to start production in January, meaning we likely won’t see the new episodes until later that year or early 2026 at the earliest. In the five years since the show premiered, we’ve only had 18 episodes.

There’s been a lot of finger-pointing as to who is to blame for the production hiatus, with many looking to the show’s creator Sam Levinson, while others saying that the cast’s increasing conflicts may be to blame. Zendaya recently shut down some of these rumors to Vanity Fair telling the outlet that despite her new films that came out this year, she technically has been off. “I will say, I have been off for a couple years, so not delayed because of my [schedule]. … I’ve been open, just waiting,” she explained.

In the meantime, Z has solidified herself as a true movie star, leading some of the biggest films of the year like “Dune: Part Two” and “Challengers,” both making great numbers at the box office and earning awards buzz. It was announced last week that she’s set to join Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film alongside her boo Tom Holland.

“Euphoria” is a wonderful showcase for her talents, but as Zendaya’s career as an actress and producer continues to blossom, what other juicy projects is she sacrificing in her continued presence on the show? Only she can best answer that question, but we all wonder if “Euphoria” is simply a career millstone hanging around the neck of someone who has better, and brighter, things to do.