First Look at Sydney Sweeney and Trisha Paytas Together in ‘Euphoria’ Season 3
Few shows in recent television history have generated the kind of sustained cultural obsession that ‘Euphoria‘ has managed to maintain between seasons. Created by Sam Levinson, ‘Euphoria’ has built a reputation as one of HBO’s defining modern dramas, standing out since its 2019 debut for its bold visual style, heavy use of music, and unflinching look at addiction, identity, trauma, and relationships. Across its first two seasons, the show received 25 Emmy nominations and won nine awards, cementing its place as HBO’s most-watched series not featuring dragons or zombies.
The third season features a time jump that places the former East Highland High students five years into the future, navigating unexpected changes in their lives. After a four-year hiatus, ‘Euphoria’ returned on April 12, 2026, with what is expected to be its third and final season, consisting of eight episodes airing Sundays on HBO and Max. Returning fan favorites including Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, Hunter Schafer, Alexa Demie, and Maude Apatow are all back to see their characters through this new chapter.
Among the most talked-about additions to that already stacked ensemble is YouTube personality and media figure Trisha Paytas. HBO confirmed Paytas as one of 18 new cast members joining ‘Euphoria’ Season 3, alongside acclaimed names like Natasha Lyonne, Danielle Deadwyler, and Eli Roth. When the news broke on October 17, Paytas shared the announcement to her Instagram with a blushing emoji, and on her Instagram Story revealed a screenshot of a text she sent to friends reading, with several crying emojis, “No way. I’m shaking.”
HBO has not shared details on Paytas’s specific role, but her inclusion signals that ‘Euphoria’ continues to blur the line between internet celebrity and Hollywood. This marks Paytas’s first proper on-screen acting role following a stint in Beetlejuice the Musical as Maxine Dean, and fans are already speculating that she will bring some much-needed chaos and comic relief to the show’s universe. The comparison to how the series previously cast ‘Euphoria’ fan favorite Chloe Cherry feels apt, given the show’s history of turning unconventional choices into beloved performances.
Meanwhile, returning star Sydney Sweeney has made no secret of the fact that her character Cassie has not exactly mellowed with age. Speaking with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, Sweeney said bluntly that Cassie is “crazy,” and when pressed on whether the character had found any peace, told Variety “Oh, she’s even worse.” She also told Empire magazine that creator Sam Levinson actively encourages her to push Cassie into more unhinged territory, adding that the new season is “unhinged.”
The new season also brings in four-time Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood as a co-producer, along with composer Hans Zimmer scoring select episodes alongside returning music architect Labrinth. Beloved supporting characters including Dominic Fike’s Elliot and Paula Marshall’s Marsha are confirmed to return, while Nika King, who plays Rue’s mother Leslie, will also appear in additional episodes. The late Angus Cloud, who played fan-favorite Fezco, will be absent from this chapter following his passing in 2023.
With a cast this sprawling, a creative team this ambitious, and a time jump that promises to reframe everything viewers thought they knew about these characters, the anticipation surrounding this season is at a fever pitch.
The question fans are debating across every corner of the internet right now is whether Trisha Paytas will become the season’s breakout surprise the way Chloe Cherry once was, or whether the casting is a curveball too many.
