What we know about ‘Euphoria’ Season 2 so far

It’s been over a year since the first season of “Euphoria” came to a bittersweet end, and naturally, fans are clamoring for more. Though the HBO show, which stars Zendaya as recovering teenage drug addict Rue Bennett, was renewed for a second season before the first one even ended, the global pandemic has seriously gotten in the way of HBO’s production plans.

However, following the historic Emmy win of 24-year-old Zendaya at the Emmys, HBO announced that “Euphoria” Season 2 would (hopefully) start filming in the coming months. The network also announced two special bridge episodes, which will premiere in just a few months.

Curious to know when “Euphoria” is coming back, and which of your favorite characters are returning? Here’s what we know so far about “Euphoria” Season 2.

How did Season 1 end?

Warning: Spoilers ahead.

The eighth and final episode of Season 1, titled “And Salt the Earth Behind You,” left things on quite a cliffhanger. In the season finale, Rue relapsed, Jules left for the city, Kat and Ethan (finally!) got together, Maddy found a damning disc in Nate’s room, Cassie got an abortion and Fez robbed a rich doctor. Yeah, it’s a lot to unpack.

When does “Euphoria” Season 2 premiere?

One thing that we know for sure is that there will be a second season of “Euphoria.” The hit HBO series was renewed for a second season in July 2019, even before the record-shattering first season was complete.

However, though it’s been more than a year since HBO announced the renewal of its highly successful teen drama, fans shouldn’t expect a second season any time soon. Sadly, production was halted due to COVID-19, and nobody is entirely sure when things will be back to normal.

In September, HBO president Casey Bloys told Deadline that the show is looking to start filming in early 2021. However, his guess is as good as anyone’s, and it wouldn’t be too shocking if things were pushed back even further.

There is some good news, though: According to Zendaya, the second season has already been written, which means all that’s left to be done is actually film it.

“There is a beautiful second season that has been written, but in order to do it the way we want to do it, we need to wait until it’s safer,” the “Euphoria” star explained to InStyle for her September cover story.

Another bit of good news: To hold fans over until filming can begin, HBO is releasing two special episodes, the first of which premiered on Dec. 6. According to Deadline, the second special episode will premiere on Jan. 24.

Zendaya first teased that there might be some bridge episodes during her interview with InStyle. “There is an idea to do a couple of bridge episodes that can be shot safely but aren’t necessarily part of Season 2,” the actress said at the time. “So, hopefully, we will be able to do those in the coming months. I can’t wait.”

She later said during a “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” interview, “We might end up doing a little bridge episode … An episode that we can do with a limited amount of people in a safer environment that can give people something —because we also miss Euphoria as the people who create it, too — and give everyone who loves the show a little something so we have something to live on until we are able to go into Season 2.”

According to HBO, the first episode will follow Rue “as she celebrates Christmas” following her relapse and abandonment by Jules. The episode, titled “Trouble Don’t Last Always,” also stars Colman Domingo (who plays Ali). The second episode, titled “F*ck Anyone Who’s Not A Sea Blob,” follows Jules during the holiday season.

Which cast members are returning for Season 2?

Though her character Rue’s fate hung in the balance at the end of Season 1, it’s safe to assume that Zendaya will be returning for Season 2, seeing as she stars in the first bridge episode.

In 2019, showrunner Sam Levinson also said that Rue “has a big journey ahead of her,” all but confirming that Zendaya would be back.

“I think Rue has a big journey ahead of her, and a tough one,” he told the Hollywood Reporter in 2019. “It’s not something I want to cut short because of who Rue means to me as someone who has battled with addiction and come out the other side, and because I think that there’s a lot more to delve into and unpack in terms of the effects of addiction on Rue and on her family and those around her. The possibilities are endless in many ways.”

Breakout star Hunter Schafer is also expected to return. Though her character ended Season 1 by leaving town for the big city, Schafer spoke to EW in August 2019 about her hopes for Jules in the sophomore season.

“I think I want to continue to see Jules work on herself in that she’s still got some major issues, and to continue to dissect that and feel it out,” she said. “I think she learns from experiencing things. And so to experience what she needs to, without being messy, that’s from the sort of loving parent/sister relationship I feel like I have with her. That’s what I want for her, although who knows how it will play out. I’m sure it will be more messy than I would hope for her.”

Season 2 of “Euphoria” will also feature some new faces, as star Alexa Demie confirmed to Elle in March.

Casting calls for some of those new characters surfaced in January 2020. Evidently, Season 2 will see a 17-year-old named Darian who is a sensitive and vulnerable outsider; an attractive 17-year-old named Ray with an edge and a “pure heart”; Ami, a twenty-something drug addict and stripper who hates her boyfriend and “has a big mouth”; and Serena, a “sassy and tough” fifty-something woman.

One of the newcomers has already been revealed as “The High Note” star Kelvin Harrison Jr. In an interview with Variety, the actor explained that he and the “Euphoria” team had “talked about” him joining the cast for a while before it finally became a reality.

View this post on Instagram

🕳🚶

A post shared by Kelvin Harrison, Jr. (@kelvharrjr) on

“It was something that we had talked about for a while, because I wanted to be on Season 1 and things didn’t really go that way,” he explained. “Suddenly, all the stars aligned and I got to be there. We did our first couple table reads and they were amazing. And we did our camera test and costume fittings were underway, and sets were being built … we were ready to go. And then the pandemic hit; coronavirus said, ‘Sit down.’ But, it’s exciting and everyone is so wonderful on that show. The cast is so fun and sweet and smart and it’s going to be really special. I’m happy to be part of it.”

If you enjoyed this story, you might also like reading about “Euphoria” star Jacob Elordi’s rare statement about body-shamers.

More from In The Know:

These are the 10 most expensive TV shows of all time

16 of the best puffer coats to shop this winter

Influencers apologize for attending party amid pandemic

Subscribe to our daily newsletter to stay In The Know

Listen to the latest episode of our pop culture podcast, We Should Talk: