ZendayaIt is “Euphoria“Rue’s character was not initially intended to meet the tragic fate seen in the Season 3 finale, according to series creator Sam Levinson.
Amid debate over several controversial scenes, Levinson also defended the dark fates of several characters this season.
Although nothing has been officially confirmed, season 3 appears to mark the end of the hit HBO series, not only due to the deaths of several main characters, but also due to reports of strained relationships between the cast.
Zendaya’s Street Originally Had a Different Ending
Fans saw Zendaya’s character, Rue Bennett, face a devastating turn in the season 3 finale of Euphoria after unknowingly taking painkillers containing fentanyl.
However, Levinson revealed in a new interview with The New York Times that this wasn’t always the plan.
According to him, Rue was initially set for an entirely different trajectory, but the real-life death of fellow actor Angus Cloud forced him to change the narrative.
“I originally wrote a different trajectory for the character of Rue. During the writers’ strike, we heard the news that Angus had passed away,” he said, referring to the 2023 overdose death of Cloud, who played the soft-hearted drug dealer Fezco on the series.
“I’ve always been very concerned about the prevalence of fentanyl. It’s an issue 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 rethink the storyline and 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 several substances.
Levinson said the change in Rue’s fate seemed like a “responsible thing to do” because 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 on the street, and you might have a bad trip or something, but you’d be fine.”
“It’s something that affects a lot of people in this country. So it’s a responsible thing to do,” he added.
Levinson also defended Nate’s brutal end
Rue’s death wasn’t the only character issue Levinson had to defend in the finale, as he also spoke about the “horrible” death of Nate Jacobs.
Nate, who was heavily in debt, was pursued by loan sharks who kidnapped him while trying to collect money from his wife, Cassie, played by Sydney Sweeney.
In an episode titled “Rain or Shine”, Cassie and her friend Maddy raced to raise 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 horrible and so anxiety-inducing that by the time it happens the audience isn’t sure they want it?”
Sydney Sweeney’s Cassie Story Divided Fans
Throughout the season, “Euphoria” was criticized by fans for several risky scenes involving Sweeney’s character after Cassie became an OnlyFans creator.
Some viewers felt the scenes went too far and accused the series of relying heavily on shock value.
However, Sweeney seemingly responded to the criticism in a recent Instagram post, where she shared behind-the-scenes photos.
“It’s called…acting,” she wrote in the caption of 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 “ritual of humiliation.”
During a recent appearance on The New York Times’ “Popcast” podcast, he praised the actress for the boldness with which she tackled controversial scenes throughout the season.
“I think she’s a totally fearless actress. She’s also wonderfully professional and shows up every day,” he said. “I love working with her because there’s such flexibility in terms of performance.”
