Sydney Sweeney shuts down 'Euphoria' cast feud rumors: 'We all grew up together on this show'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Actress Sydney Sweeney has addressed longstanding speculation surrounding the extended gap between the second and third seasons of HBO's hit drama 'Euphoria,' rejecting claims that cast tensions or scheduling conflicts contributed to the production delay.
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, published on June 9, Sweeney addressed the speculation surrounding the show's hiatus and clarified that the cast was not responsible for the delay.
The last season, which concluded in May, attracted strong viewership, with its finale weekend drawing 8.7 million cross-platform viewers in the US and episodes averaging 25 million viewers worldwide.
Sydney Sweeney clarifies 'Euphoria' production delay
Sweeney, who has portrayed Cassie Howard since the series debuted in 2019, spoke candidly about the speculation that circulated during the years-long wait for the third season. According to her, reports suggesting that cast schedules or behind-the-scenes tensions slowed production were inaccurate.
“Well, I mean, we all grew up together on this show, so it’s honestly crazy to watch how much social media and the press spin things,” she said.
The delay between seasons became a frequent topic of discussion after production on season 3, which was initially expected to begin in 2024, was postponed.
The postponement came amid the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, as well as reported script development delays. Sweeney explained that she and the rest of the cast were contractually committed to the series whenever filming was scheduled to begin.
“I was in first position to HBO,” she said, adding, “So the moment they say, ‘Hey, this is the first day of filming,’ I’m legally not allowed to do anything else. So my schedule doesn’t affect the show.”
She also said the same arrangement applied to her fellow cast members. “All of us were in first position, so it wasn’t like any of our schedules were holding it up.”
Since the show's premiere, several members of the ensemble cast have become major stars in Hollywood. Sweeney herself expanded her career with acclaimed work in 'The White Lotus' and film projects including 'Anyone but You' and 'The Housemaid.'
Sydney Sweeney reflects on playing Cassie
During the interview, Sweeney also discussed her long-running collaboration with series creator Sam Levinson and revealed that she learned about major elements of Cassie’s future years before filming season 3. As season 2 was concluding, Levinson regularly shared ideas about where the character’s story would head next.
“So I knew years before we started filming season three that I would be married to Nate, we’d be living in a suburban neighborhood, and Cassie would be crazier than ever,” Sweeney said.
While she was aware of the broad direction of the storyline, she did not know the details until she received the scripts. In season 3, Cassie becomes an OnlyFans creator, a development Sweeney believed aligns with the character’s long-standing desire for validation.
“From the very beginning, you can see that Cassie has this need to be loved. She has a need to be validated by other people. She doesn’t know how to love herself unless someone else loves her,” Sweeney explained, adding, “I think she was more excited by the idea of all these people loving her and knowing who she is and feeling like her world isn’t small.”
The actress also spoke about conversations she had with Levinson regarding the nudity required for the storyline. While making it clear that she does not personally agree with all of Cassie’s decisions, she stressed the importance of portraying the character authentically.
“Do I agree with all of Cassie’s decisions? Would I personally make these choices? No, of course not,” she said, adding, “But I’m an actor and that’s my job and this is Cassie’s life and to be able to do her justice and play her how she’s to be played is to bring Sam’s vision to life and to play Cassie in the most vulnerable and insane way possible.”
