Is Euphoria really over? The truth about HBO show's future... and the A-list stars who WON'T be back

Euphoria's current season has been touted as its last, but speculation is growing that the hit HBO series could continue with further instalments.

Following the third season's incredible ratings and nonstop press coverage, fans are now wondering if the show will be back for a fourth season.

The rumor mill was further fueled after HBO listed episode 8, which airs this Sunday, as the 'season' finale instead of the 'series' finale. 

Despite the growing speculation, an HBO insider tells Daily Mail that, 'the third season was planned as the final and that has not changed.'

However, another source has shared that Euphoria creator Sam Levinson is open to doing more with Euphoria in the future. 

'Sam has had conversations with HBO about the possibility of a fourth season,' they shared.

'Nothing has been officially greenlit, but both sides came to the conclusion that there's really no reason the series couldn’t continue.'

While it's unclear if the show's current cast of A-listers like Sydney Sweeney and Zendaya will return, there's a possibility that Euphoria could move forward at some point with new cast members, similar to Degrassi or Gossip Girl, or even as a spin-off.

'If HBO ultimately decides to move forward with another season, Sam is on board,' the source shared.

Shortly after filming for season three started last year, HBO’s Head of Drama Francesca Orsi told Deadline that they'd 'talked about' ending the series, but stopped short at delivering a final verdict on Euphoria's future. 

'I don’t think anything is over until it’s over, but it’s been discussed that this is the end,' she said.

However, that was long before the ratings for season three had come in. 

Since returning to the small screen in April, Euphoria has become the biggest show on HBO Max, pulling in even more viewers than its critically-acclaimed second season did in 2022.

Around 20million viewers tuned in for the season three premiere in its first week alone.

Euphoria has also dominated both social media and the mainstream press for weeks, primarily thanks to Sweeney's raunchy role as OnlyFans model Cassie Jacobs. 

Levinson himself has indicated that he's open to continuing Euphoria.

'I write every season like it’s the last,' he previously told the New York Times. 

'If inspiration strikes and I have an idea, then I’ll talk to HBO. If it makes sense, it makes sense.' 

If the show does come back, it's unlikely that Zendaya will return with it.

While promoting the third season last month, the 29-year-old told Drew Barrymore that she believed season three would be the last and that 'closure' was coming for her character, Rue. 

Zendaya is also now one of Hollywood's most in-demand stars thanks to roles in the Dune and Spider-Man franchises, along with the recent box office success of her arthouse rom-com The Drama.

There's also Zendaya's widely speculated issues with co-star Sweeney, which led to the pair allegedly refusing to pose with each other at the season three premiere in April.   

Jacob Elordi is also unlikely to return to Euphoria given that his character Nate Jacobs was killed off in season three. 

He also has a number of huge films in the pipeline, including Ridley Scott's The Dog Stars and the historical arthouse drama Outer Dark from Oscar-winning filmmaker László Nemes.

As for Sweeney, she's been tight-lipped on the future of the show.

When asked by Variety last year if Euphoria would continue for a fourth season, she said with a laugh, 'I cannot disclose any information!'

She added, 'I think that if there's more story to tell within our characters' worlds, then of course. I love Cassie.'