‘Euphoria’ Honors Angus Cloud And Eric Dane

HBO’s “Euphoria” returned with an emotional Season 3 premiere that paid tribute to late stars Angus Cloud and Eric Dane.

The show’s debut episode honored both actors during a star-studded premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre, with creator Sam Levinson revealing that Cloud’s death forced him to scrap and rewrite the original script.

As fans celebrate the long-awaited return, reports of behind-the-scenes tension persist. Insiders claim lead star Zendaya had grown increasingly frustrated over prolonged delays ahead of the launch of the third season.

‘Euphoria’ Premiere Pays Tribute To Angus Cloud And Eric Dane

The highly anticipated third season of HBO’s hit series “Euphoria” finally premiered on Sunday, April 12, much to the delight of fans worldwide.

The celebration carried an emotional weight, however, as the show took a poignant moment to honor Cloud and Dane, as well as executive producer Kevin Turen.

According to Rolling Stone, the episode opened with a solemn title card featuring Dane’s image alongside the words, “In remembrance of Eric Dane.” The tribute continued at the end of the premiere with an “In Memoriam” screen that recognized Cloud and Turen.

Cloud died from an accidental drug overdose in July 2023 at the age of 25, while Dane passed away in February at the age of 53 after he was diagnosed with ALS.

Sam Levinson Worked Out A Way To Feature Eric Dane

Although Dane did not appear in the Season 3 premiere, he is set to feature later in the eight-episode run, thanks to a last-minute effort by Levinson.

Levinson revealed that the “Grey’s Anatomy” alum personally called him ahead of filming to share his ALS diagnosis, prompting the team to quickly adjust production and shoot his scenes in a single day.

The show writer revealed that Dane showed up ready to perform, even as symptoms began to surface.

“I could tell he had a slight slur in his voice,” Levinson said, according to Extra. “I said, ‘Don’t worry. We’ll just put, like, five beer bottles in front of you and you’ve been drinking all night.”

Angus Cloud Was Supposed To Play A Bigger Role

Cloud does not appear at all in Season 3, although his presence is still deeply felt across the new installment. The actor passed away long before filming began in 2025, forcing a total rethink of the storyline from Levinson.

Speaking during the premiere, the director became emotional as he reflected on their bond.

“When Angus died, it was tough. I loved him deeply, and I fought hard to keep him clean,” he admitted.

Levinson had originally written Cloud’s character, Fezco, into a major arc for the season. However, following the tragic loss, he said he had to scrap the scripts entirely and start over.

Zendaya Was Frustrated With Levinson Over Series’ Delay

While “Euphoria’s” return has fans buzzing, reports suggest tensions may still be lingering behind the scenes, particularly involving Levinson and lead star Zendaya.

Several signs at the premiere raised eyebrows. Cast members, including Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, and Jacob Elordi, did not join the series creator on stage. The stars also skipped traditional red-carpet moments, opting out of interviews and group photos. Zendaya herself arrived late and reportedly missed the afterparty at the Chateau Marmont.

Fans further speculated about behind-the-scenes friction after noticing “Dune” star was not credited as an executive producer this season, despite holding the role in previous installments.

Levinson Explains What Delayed Season 3

Levinson has shed more light on why “Euphoria’s” third season took so long to arrive, pointing to a mix of industry setbacks and deeply personal circumstances.

Speaking at the premiere, he said, “The fact that we’re actually here and we’re able to pull this season off. That’s nothing short of a miracle.”

He also cited the impact of Hollywood strikes and the challenge of coordinating a cast whose schedules have become increasingly packed, according to Vanity Fair.

“There were obvious factors, Levinson said. “The strikes, trying to make a schedule work with our very in-demand cast, but the real time was in trying to figure out how to find a way to pay respect to those who we lost.”

Beyond that, Levinson was also tied up working on HBO’s “The Idol,” which stars The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp.