Euphoria reveals Fez's fate after actor Angus Cloud's tragic death following overdose

HBO isn't saying goodbye to Angus Cloud's Euphoria character, Fez, just yet. 

The first episode of the show's season three premiered on Sunday, and Fez's absence was immediately felt by viewers following Cloud's tragic death nearly three years ago.

The late actor died at age 25 in July 2023. It was later revealed that the manner of death was an accidental overdose. 

Following his off-screen death, the season three premiere picks up after a five-year time jump following the season two finale.

The previously high school-age characters are on different paths in their early adulthood. 

In one scene Zendaya's character Rue talked to Lexi (Maude Apatow) about getting in touch with Fez. During their conversation it was revealed that Fez is doing a long stint in prison. 

'You know, you really should call Fez,' Rue tells Lexi, who responds by saying she knows she should but has been too busy to do so. 

In response, Rue tells her that Fez has said multiple times that he misses Lexi, but Lexi ends up making an excuse about time. 

'Just pick up the phone and call him. It's not like he's going anywhere,' Rue says. 'He's in prison for 30 years.' 

The season two finale previously ended with a tense, action-packed sequence with Fez seemingly getting arrested. 

'There are a lot of scenes where people are either talking to him on the phone,' creator Sam Levinson told Variety at the Los Angeles premiere earlier this week. 

'I thought that if I couldn't keep him alive in life then maybe within this show that I can control and keep him alive there,' he added. 

'I think the whole thing was to honor him and also I can't wait for you to see the last few episodes. I think he would be cracking up at his story line. I think he would love it.'

Another star who also tragically had an offscreen death was Eric Dane, who died at age 53 in February due to respiratory failure caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Dane had filmed all of his scenes prior to his death and will appear posthumously in season three.

Levinson also paid tribute to the late actors with a five-minute speech to honor the late stars at the premiere.

In a video shared by Deadline, Levinson said that the delay between seasons two and three was due to multiple factors. 

However, he noted: 'The real time was in trying to figure out how to find a way to pay respect to those who we've lost.' 

'When Angus died, it was tough,' he continued. 'I loved him deeply, and I fought hard to keep him clean. The year he died, in 2023, he was one of 73,000 people in America who died of a fentanyl overdose.'

He added: 'I learned a whole lot that year, but what I realized more than anything is that death is what gives life meaning. 

'You can't be arrogant about existence. You're forced to reckon with the fact that life itself is a wonder, a gift, a profound blessing.'

In another interview, he shared his thoughts about 'how precious life is' and how he wanted to incorporate that sentiment into the third season to honor the late actors. 

'How do I tell a story about what it means to be alive and to have the freedom to choose whatever path you want to choose — but there's also the consequences that come with it?' 

Levinson added: 'In many ways, this season was about honoring Angus and exploring what the greater meaning of life is. And I think what it comes down to is gratitude. 

'You gotta have gratitude for the small moments, for the tragedies and also the beautiful parts of life. It became the thematic backbone.' 

Levinson dedicated the third and final season to Cloud, Dane and executive producer Kevin Turen, who died in 2023.