Euphoria (American TV series)
Euphoria is an American teen drama television series created and principally written by Sam Levinson for HBO. It is based on the Israeli miniseries of the same name, developed by Ron Leshem and Daphna Levin. The series stars Zendaya as Rue Bennett, a troubled teenage drug addict navigating her recovery, seeking her identity, and managing her relationships post-rehabilitation. The ensemble cast features Maude Apatow, Angus Cloud, Eric Dane, Alexa Demie, Jacob Elordi, Barbie Ferreira, Nika King, Storm Reid, Hunter Schafer, Algee Smith, Sydney Sweeney, Colman Domingo, Javon "Wanna" Walton, Austin Abrams, and Dominic Fike. While Rue serves as the central character, most episodes begin by exploring the backstories of other main characters.
| Euphoria | |
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| Genre | |
| Created by | Sam Levinson |
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| Written by | Sam Levinson[lower-alpha 1] |
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| Starring | |
| Narrated by | Zendaya[lower-alpha 2] |
| Composer | Labrinth[lower-alpha 3] |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 18 |
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| Camera setup | Single-camera[2] |
| Running time | 48–65 minutes |
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| Release | |
| Original network | HBO |
| Original release | June 16, 2019 – present |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | The Idol |
| External links | |
| [{{#property:P856}} Website] | |
The executive producers of Euphoria include Levinson, Canadian rapper and singer Drake, Zendaya, Ron Leshem, and Gary Lennon. Set and filmed in California, notable filming locations include Ulysses S. Grant High School in Los Angeles and Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City. The series has garnered generally positive reviews, praised for its cinematography, score, performances, and handling of mature themes. However, some critics have deemed the nudity and sexual content excessive, given the high school setting and the age of its characters. It ranks as the fourth most-watched series in HBO history, following Game of Thrones, The Last of Us, and House of the Dragon. Additionally, it shares the same universe as Levinson's 2023 television series The Idol.
The first season of Euphoria premiered on 16 June 2019, concluding on 04 August, comprising eight episodes. Two one-hour specials aired in December 2020 and January 2021. The eight-episode second season premiered on 09 January 2022, and concluded on 27 February. In March 2022, the series was renewed for a third season, which was initially set to begin production in December 2023. However, this was delayed due to the 2023 Hollywood labour disputes and the untimely deaths of Cloud and executive producer Kevin Turen. Filming for the third season commenced in January 2025.
Euphoria has received numerous accolades, including a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series. Zendaya has won two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Critics' Choice Television Award, and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her performance. Sweeney, Domingo, and Martha Kelly have also received Emmy nominations for their acting, with Domingo winning Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Ali.
References
- ↑ Jones, Marcus (June 17, 2021). "Hunter Schafer on writing Lorde's 'Liability' into her Euphoria special episode and how the singer reacted". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 23, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
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