Zendaya Looks Worn Out While Filming 'Euphoria' As Cast Slams Long Work Hours

Former Disney Channel star Zendaya was recently seen on the set of "Euphoria" in Palmdale, California, signaling to fans that the long-awaited third season of the hit HBO series is finally in production.

Zendaya is reprising her role as Rue Bennett, filming alongside co-star Alexa Demie.

The set included a custom-built strip club called The Silver Slipper and a classic diner, providing intriguing hints about the upcoming season's storyline.

Zendaya was photographed in two distinct looks: one featuring a maroon jacket over a white t-shirt with black track pants, and another with a green jacket over a white tee and blue pants.

However, those images from the set showed Zendaya looking noticeably tired, a reminder of the behind-the-scenes controversies that surfaced in 2022. Cast members had previously spoken out about grueling work conditions under show creator Sam Levinson, alleging that shooting days could stretch to 15 or even 17 hours.

According to reports, Levinson often arrived on set without a clear shot list, causing delays and prolonging the already exhausting days. The filming of the New Year’s Eve party scene for the season two premiere was particularly challenging, with production taking over a week and running from dusk to dawn.

Fans of the critically acclaimed show will have to wait until 2026 to see the new season, as production was delayed by the packed filming schedules of Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, and Jacob Elordi, as well as the SAG and WGA strikes.

Maude Apatow, who stars as Lexi Howard, previously shared with Thrillist, "We shot all night, so we would start at 6 pm and go until whenever the sun would rise, 5 am, and we were so tired. We were trying so hard to stay awake!"

Elordi, who plays Nate Jacobs, likened the experience to being stuck in an unwanted party. "We shot that party for over a week, so very quickly it’s like being in Hell," he said. "It’s like being in a party that you don’t want to be in. At all. And you can’t wait [to leave]."

"Euphoria," known for its raw portrayal of a teen addict and her peers navigating love, loss, sex, and addiction, debuted on HBO in June 2019.

Controversy continues to swirl around "Euphoria" creator Sam Levinson, with new allegations suggesting the showrunner sidelined certain cast members while favoring others. These claims come amid previous criticisms of excessively long shooting days and chaotic set conditions.

One of the most notable casualties of these alleged decisions was Barbie Ferreira, whose character, Kat Hernandez, had a significant storyline in the first season of the show but was noticeably pushed to the background in the second. Reports indicate that Ferreira walked off set twice due to the grueling filming conditions and ultimately chose to leave the show altogether.

Algee Smith, who portrayed Chris McKay, the boyfriend of Cassie Howard (played by Sydney Sweeney), was also reduced from a prominent character in season one to a near afterthought in season two, appearing in only a single episode. Before being cut from the show, Smith expressed uncertainty about his character’s future.

"I’m not even really sure, to be honest with you," Smith told The Daily Beast. "I think that’s a question we have to ask our creator [Levinson], where he sees it going."

The pandemic further disrupted the series, leading to significant delays and the second season premiering almost two years after the first. When production resumed, Levinson reportedly reworked storylines, leading to further confusion and changes in character arcs.

"There are very few things that remain in the version you’re now seeing," Zendaya said. "The things that didn’t make it definitely needed to die.”

While "Euphoria" was renewed for a third season shortly after season two premiered, production faced further delays due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes and the unexpected deaths of cast member Angus Cloud and executive producer Kevin Turen.

As fans eagerly await the third season of "Euphoria," lead actress and executive producer Zendaya has shared intriguing new details about the show's direction. Speaking on Entertainment Weekly's "The Awardist," the 28-year-old star confirmed that the upcoming season will feature a significant time jump, moving the storyline beyond high school and into the characters' adult lives.

"It's important because there's only so much high school drama you can deal with," Zendaya explained. While she revealed that even she doesn't "actually know much about what is happening," the actress emphasized that the shift in setting would bring fresh challenges and storylines to explore.

"I don't quite know exactly what the season is going to look like, but I do know that the time jump is happening," she said, highlighting that the change will open up new narrative possibilities.