Apparently, Euphoria has a lot of drama on-screen and off-screen!
Fans have been waiting for a third season since the last episode aired all the way back in February 2022. For months and months and months, they were left disappointed as there was no word on when production would start — or even if the show would return at all. Not until this month did HBO announce production would begin in January, with many of the main cast members set to return. But what was the hold up? Why did it take so long for an announcement to be made? We finally got the tea about the delay! It turns out all was not euphoric behind the scenes. We’re shockingly talking about Zendaya and Sam Levinson here!
According to a new report from The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday, a source involved with the production said the 27-year-old actress and the Euphoria creator “were thick as thieves” during the first two seasons of the popular show. However, their relationship became strained once he became more focused on The Idol instead of Euphoria, thus putting the next season on an indefinite pause.
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The outlet reported that the plan was Sam would only write a spec script for the pilot episode and not spend too much time on the show since he was still working on season two of Euphoria. But apparently he didn’t stick to it. The filmmaker ended up working more on The Idol, which supposedly frustrated Zendaya, as he had not delivered any scripts for the third season over the past two years. In fact, she was so annoyed with Sam that she asked for a meeting with HBO’s head of drama Francesca Orsi and CEO Casey Bloys. The Hollywood Reporter claimed The Greatest Showman star demanded “to know why the network allowed Levinson to turn his attention to another show — an HBO show, no less — with Euphoria hanging in the balance.”
Their rift deepened in March 2023 when Rolling Stone dropped an article claiming The Idol’s production went “disgustingly, disturbingly off the rails” with a toxic work environment. Crew members slammed the series as “sexual torture porn,” depicting the “rape fantasy” of a “toxic man.” Once the show’s one and only season aired, fans and critics seemed to agree, slamming it for unnecessary sex and masturbation scenes. Not to mention that they thought the series was just bad in general!
Although Zendaya was not involved with The Idol in any way, she got dragged into the backlash online. An executive who has worked with her told the outlet that “her image is pristine” and “fans were turning against Sam,” calling for her to cut ties with him. Oof. That certainly didn’t help their already strained relationship! With Sam and Zendaya on bad terms by then, they had another meeting with Bloys and Orsi months later to discuss their creative issues. The hope was for the pair to reconcile. That didn’t happen, though. An insider involved with the show noted:
“They went from being so close, and they couldn’t fix it.”
What made the situation worse? THR claimed Zendaya told HBO executives she didn’t want his wife, Ashley Levinson, to be the sole executive producer on Season 3 of Euphoria after the death of executive producer Kevin Turen in November 2023. Sources said she is “more sharp-elbowed than conciliatory and, above all, fiercely protective of” Sam. Soooo, she’s not going to reel him in when needed? A talent agent told the outlet:
“Sam needs somebody else beside Ashley. He needs a voice of reason, and Kevin was a genius at that.”
Another insider added:
“Sam really is a big talent, but he needs managing, and if you’re a spouse, it’s tough. He needs boundaries, he needs deadlines. It’s hard for a spouse to set limits. You’re setting yourself up for failure.”
Of course, there are always two sides to every story. A source close to Sam alleged the director blames Zendaya for delaying production on Euphoria! He apparently feels she was “dragging her feet” over the show due to her busy film career, as she starred in Dune: Part Two and Challengers. One source noted:
“It was all about her. Everybody wanted to make it about Sam, but it was her.”
She also rejected several of his ideas for her storyline in the third season, including that Rue would be a private detective or a surrogate mother. Can fans blame her for shutting down those plans? We still need a conclusion to Rue owing Laurie thousands of dollars for a suitcase of drugs! At least tie up that major plot hole before diving into something else!
Despite all these issues between Sam and Zendaya, the two managed to work things out. On Tuesday evening, TMZ reported they are back on good terms and excited to work on the show again next year. Hmm. Whether things remain OK between them once production starts is a different story! Sam better get to work and create a decent season, or else this could be the end of his working relationship with Zendaya! Reactions, Perezcious readers? Sound OFF in the comments below.
[Image via MEGA/WENN,HBO/YouTube]
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