Zendaya and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson are reportedly having a “strained relationship” after he “focused his attention on the controversial series The Idol” instead of the critically acclaimed third season of Euphoria.
The 27-year-old actress, who plays Rue on the hit HBO series, is said to have fallen out with showrunner Levinson, 39, after he spent more time on the 2023 series starring Lily Rose Depp and The Weeknd while he was busy working on the second season of Euphoria.
A study by THR claims that Zendaya’s “frustration grew” after Levinson failed to deliver scripts for the third season of Euphoria — which has yet to begin filming — and that the actress requested a meeting with HBO’s head of drama Francesca Orsi and CEO Casey Bloys.
It was alleged that she “wanted to know why the network allowed Levinson to focus on another show — an HBO show, no less — while Euphoria was on the line.”
Zendaya and Levinson were initially good friends, but their alleged rift deepened in March 2023 after Rolling Stone published an article stating that The Idol “went off the rails in a disgusting and disturbing way” with a toxic work environment.
Zendaya and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson reportedly have a ‘strained relationship’ after he ‘focused his attention on the controversial show The Idol’ instead of the hyped third season of Euphoria – pictured together in 2022
The show was regularly criticized by fans and critics alike for the many gratuitous sex and masturbation scenes featured throughout the series – and was labeled as ‘torture porn’
The series, which was canceled after just one season, has reportedly been the target of fierce criticism from fans about the project, with the star reportedly angry that it has tarnished her “impeccable image.”
An executive who has worked with the star said that “fans turned on Sam” and “urged Zendaya to distance herself.”
Months later, another meeting took place with Zendaya, Levinson, Bloys and Orsi in an attempt at reconciliation. But a source involved with the show said, “They were so close that they couldn’t work it out.”
Zendaya also reportedly told HBO executives that she did not want Sam’s wife Ashley Levinson to be the sole executive producer on the third season, following the sudden death of executive producer Kevin Turen in November 2023 at the age of 44.
Sources told THR that Ashley is “more combative than conciliatory and, above all, fiercely protective of her husband.”
A talent representative with a client on the show said, “Sam needs someone else besides Ashley. He needs a voice of reason, and Kevin was a genius at that.’
The actress, 27, who plays Rue on the hit HBO series, is said to have clashed with showrunner Levinson, 39, after he spent more time working on the 2023 series starring Lily Rose Depp and The Weeknd while he was busy working on the second season of Euphoria.
Zendaya and Levinson were initially good friends, but their alleged rift deepened in March 2023 after Rolling Stone published an article alleging that The Idol had gone “disgustingly, disturbingly off the rails” with a toxic work environment.
The show was regularly criticized by fans and critics alike for the many gratuitous sex and masturbation scenes featured throughout the series – and was labeled as ‘torture porn’
However, a source close to Levinson has placed the blame squarely on Zendaya – claiming she was “dragging her feet” on Euphoria because of her budding film career – saying: “It was all about her. Everyone wanted to make it about Sam, but it was her.”
According to other sources, Sydney Sweeney was keen to return to Euphoria with Levinson at the helm, while co-star Jacob Elordi was reportedly “distant and ambivalent” about returning but has since signed on for the third season.
Levinson’s alleged first attempt at a storyline for the third season — which would have featured Zendaya as a private investigator — was rejected by Zendaya and HBO.
Her idea to play a surrogate mother was also rejected.
However, HBO sources report that Zendaya and Levinson’s relationship is beginning to thaw ahead of the third season filming in January 2025.
DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Zendaya and HBO for comment.
Representatives for Levinson, Ashley and Zendaya declined to comment to the publication.
Orsi confirmed in a statement to Variety earlier this month that Euphoria would return for a third season.
“I’m thrilled that we’re set to begin production on Euphoria in January. We couldn’t be happier with our creative partnership with Sam and this incredible cast,” she said.
Orsi added: “We look forward to bringing this new season of Euphoria to life for the fans.”
However, a source close to Levinson has laid the blame squarely at Zendaya’s door – claiming she was ‘dragging her feet’ on Euphoria because of her burgeoning film career – saying: ‘It was all about her. Everyone wanted to make it about Sam, but it was her’ – pictured in Dune: Part Two
Other sources claim that Sydney Sweeney was eager to return to Euphoria with Levinson at the helm
The future of the series has seemed uncertain for years, as many of the series’ regular actors became superstars during the drama series’ hiatus in 2022.
Jacob Elordi and Hunter Schafer also return in season 3 of the teen drama series.
Warner Bros. Discovery executives Bloys and JB Perrette said Variety last month that there might be a time jump in the story, and showrunner Sam Levinson is currently working on it.
The HBO CEO explained, “Sam is working on it. There’s been a lot of back and forth… One of the issues that I think Sam is thinking about is that he doesn’t want to have it in high school anymore. That’s where it was set and what made sense at the time.
“So when you pull it out, there’s a lot of back and forth about where to put it and how far in the future and all that kind of stuff. But I think he has a vision that he’s excited about, and he’s busy writing it.”
In March, it was reported that the third season of the hit series had been delayed due to the busy schedules of the series’ in-demand cast members.
Scripts for season 3 are currently being worked on.
An HBO spokesperson told Variety: “HBO and Sam Levinson remain committed to creating an exceptional third season.
“In the meantime, we’re giving our sought-after cast the chance to pursue other opportunities.”
The first two seasons of showrunner Levinson’s racy series also starred Maude Apatow, Alexa Demie, the late Angus Cloud, Barbie Ferreira and Dominic Fike.
Euphoria’s second season premiered in 2022 to critical and commercial acclaim. In February 2022, it was confirmed that a third season had been greenlit – HBO announced last year that the third and final season would air in 2025.
Production of the third season was delayed due to the now-resolved WGA strike and the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. Creator Sam Levinson and Zendaya’s busy schedules also contributed to the delay.
Zendaya has played the role of drug-addicted teenager Rue since Euphoria premiered on HBO in 2019.
Jacob Elordi was reportedly ‘distant and ambivalent’ about his return, but has now signed on for the third season
The program’s first season consisted of eight episodes and was followed by two specials in 2020 and 2021.
The drama also stars Eric Dane, Storm Reid, Colman Domingo, Javon Walton, Austin Abrams and Nika King.
In the meantime, the show’s stars have gone on to become big stars in the film world. Zendaya recently starred in the hit film Dune 2 opposite Timothee Chalamet, while Elordi directed the films Priscilla and Saltburn.