Euphoria season 3 concluded with a divisive finale, but creator Sam Levinson has revealed that Rue Bennett's fate was not originally written that way. The tragic real-life death of actor Angus Cloud significantly altered the trajectory of Zendaya's character.
Warning: Major Spoilers Ahead
The HBO series ended devastatingly with Rue's accidental overdose after taking fentanyl-laced painkillers given by kingpin Alamo. Fans were heartbroken, hoping Rue would survive and find happiness.
Speaking on The New York Times' Popcast podcast, Sam explained that the ending was inspired by his concerns about fentanyl's prevalence and its role in Angus Cloud's death. "There was a different trajectory for the character of Rue," Sam revealed. "During the writers' strike in 2023, we got the news that Angus passed away."
Honouring Angus Cloud
Sam continued: "Once he passed away, I had to re-conceive the script. You can't tell a story about addiction today without the very real consequences. Most people don't get a second chance. Fentanyl can just take you out in an instant." This led to Rue's tragic end, which Sam described as "a way of honouring Angus and saying a prayer for the future."
Sam did not reveal the original ending but mentioned it was "not that different." It remains unclear if Rue originally died or survived.
Fentanyl's Impact
Angus' death prompted Sam to use season 3 to highlight fentanyl's devastating effect in the US. "It felt like if we were really going to be saying something, we needed to put the audience in the position of a family member who loses someone they love," he said. "I know how much I love Rue and audiences love Rue. I wanted to mirror that feeling."
At the season 3 premiere, Sam expressed anger about fentanyl: "In 2023, 73,000 Americans died of fentanyl overdoses. I couldn't understand why we were allowing so many people to be poisoned."
Rue's Relapse
Explaining Rue's accidental overdose despite being sober all season, Sam noted: "That addictive personality is always underneath the surface. She gets banged up, her hand gets cut. I always thought of it as a window into her psyche. She feels, 'OK, I'll just take one.'" He added a brutal twist: "I always imagine it was the fentanyl she smuggled in the first episode."
In an HBO interview, he elaborated: "I wanted to tell an honest story about addiction. People relapse. They mess up. They're not ready to get clean. And they weren't dying like they are now with fentanyl."
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, contact FRANK or the National Helpline for Mental Health, Drug, Alcohol Issues.
