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Zendaya‘s “Euphoria” character Rue was not originally meant to meet the tragic fate seen in the Season 3 finale, according to show creator Sam Levinson.
Amid debate over several controversial scenes, Levinson has also defended the dark destiny of multiple characters this season.
Although nothing has been officially confirmed, Season 3 appears to mark the end of the hit HBO series, not only because of the deaths of several lead characters, but also due to reports of strained relationships among the cast.
Fans witnessed Zendaya’s character, Rue Bennett, face a devastating turn in the “Euphoria” Season 3 finale after unknowingly taking painkillers laced with fentanyl.
However, Levinson has revealed in a new interview with The New York Times that this was not always the plan.
According to him, Rue was originally mapped out for an entirely different trajectory, but the real-life death of fellow actor Angus Cloud forced him to change the narrative.
“I had originally written a different trajectory for the character of Rue. During the writers’ strike, we got the news that Angus passed away,” he said, referring to the 2023 overdose death of Cloud, who played soft-hearted drug dealer Fezco in the series.
“I’d always been really concerned about the prevalence of fentanyl. It’s something that we’ve dealt with over the seasons and even in my first film [Another Happy Day],” he continued. “But once he passed away, I had to reconceive the script, and I thought, ‘you can’t tell a story about addiction today without the very real consequences.’”
Sam Levinson Defends Rue’s Tragic Fate
Like Rue, the Coroner’s Office confirmed that Cloud’s death was accidental and caused by acute intoxication due to the combined effects of multiple substances.
Levinson said the change to Rue’s fate felt like the “responsible thing to do,” as it highlighted the dangers of drug addiction.
He said, “Most people don’t get a second chance. Fentanyl can just take you out in an instant. It wasn’t like when I was growing up; you could literally take pills off the street, and you might have a bad trip or something, but you’d be fine.”
“This is something that hits close to home for a lot of people in this country. So, it felt like the responsible thing to do,” he added.
Levinson Also Defended Nate’s Brutal Ending
Rue’s death was not the only character exit Levinson had to defend in the finale, as he also spoke about Nate Jacobs’ “horrific” death.
Nate, who was deep in debt, was pursued by loan sharks who kidnapped him while trying to recover money from his wife, Cassie, played by Sydney Sweeney.
In an episode titled “Rain or Shine,” Cassie and her friend Maddy scrambled to raise the money and even enlisted the help of crime boss Alamo in their search for him.
By the time they discovered where Nate had been taken, it was already too late.
“There’s this kind of funny thing where I know what the audience wants in terms of justice or karma, and with that in mind, I always think, ‘Well, how can I give it to them?’” Levinson told Esquire. “How can I give them what they want, but make it so horrific and anxiety-inducing that by the time it happens, the audience isn’t so sure they wanted it?”
Sydney Sweeney’s Cassie Storyline Divided Fans
All season long, “Euphoria” came under fire from fans over several risqué scenes involving Sweeney’s character after Cassie became an OnlyFans creator.
Some viewers felt the scenes went too far and accused the show of leaning heavily into shock value.
However, Sweeney seemingly hit back at critics in a recent Instagram post, where she shared photos from behind the scenes.
“It’s called… acting,” she wrote in the caption in a seemingly pointed message to critics.
Sam Levinson Says Sweeney Was ‘Fearless’
Levinson also praised Sweeney’s work on the series after fans accused him of subjecting her to a “humiliation ritual.”
During a recent appearance on The New York Times’ “Popcast” podcast, he praised the actress for how boldly she approached the controversial scenes throughout the season.
“I think she’s a totally fearless actor. She’s also just wonderfully professional, and shows up just game every day,” he said. “I adore working with her, because there’s such a flexibility in terms of the performance.”
