‘Euphoria’ creator Sam Levinson defends killing Zendaya’s chracter Rue in Season 3 finale

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Zendaya’s “Euphoria” character, Rue Bennett, dying successful nan Season 3 finale was nan astir “honest ending” for nan show, creator Sam Levinson insisted aft nan tragic segment aired.

The showrunner declared successful a post-finale HBO question and reply that “people for illustration Rue don’t make it.”

The 41-year-old added that he was motivated to termination disconnected nan beloved characteristic arsenic a measurement to grant precocious formed personnel Angus Cloud, who died successful July 2023 astatine 25.

“Euphoria” creator Sam Levinson (pictured supra connected April 7) stands down sidesplitting different original formed personnel successful Sunday’s finale. FilmMagic
Zendaya’s character, Rue Bennett, suffered a fatal overdose successful this weekend’s episode. HBO

“People relapse. They f–k up. They’re not fresh to get clean,” Levinson said. “There’s nary logic to sugarcoat it. I wanted to show this communicative for Angus and for group who weren’t granted a 2nd chance.”

Bennett, notably, suffered an accidental overdose — as did Cloud — successful a tragic segment that aired Sunday night.

Zendaya’s characteristic took laced pills fixed to her by Alamo Brown, played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, midway done nan episode, titled “In God We Trust.”

Cloud’s character, Fezco, was featured successful nan section during Rue’s decease sequence.

Levinson called this prime nan “honest ending.” HBO
“People for illustration Rue don’t make it,” he said — noting that nan determination honored precocious formed personnel Angus Cloud (pictured supra successful nan halfway successful January 2022). Getty Images for HBO

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“Rue is benignant of going backmost done her life,” Levinson explained to Esquire complete nan weekend. “So this is really a infinitesimal wherever she pulls up astatine nan aged convenience shop that Fezco utilized to activity at. She’s looking up astatine nan motion and has this flashback representation of her and Angus together.”

The segment came from a trial reel, nan head shared pinch nan outlet.

“It’s footage that ne'er made it into nan show,” Levinson noted. “I thought, oh, it’d beryllium awesome to usage that footage and conscionable spot him again—and spot the two of them.”

He continued, “I really wanted to dive into that this play and woody pinch fentanyl, and woody pinch nan consequences and really it’s taking distant young people’s opportunity for a 2nd chance. When I was increasing up and doing drugs, sure, you could O.D. connected something, but it wasn’t for illustration it is coming wherever you make 1 incorrect move and you’re dead.”

Cloud, who suffered a fatal overdose successful 2023, was featured successful nan finale.
Levinson utilized footage of Cloud and Zendaya from an aged trial reel. HBO MAX

Levinson, similarly, said successful nan HBO after-show segment, “I tin opportunity pinch absolute surely that if I was going through what I went done erstwhile I was younger now, I wouldn’t beryllium present either … pinch nan influx of fentanyl into this country.”

As for Zendaya, she called nan domiciled a “pleasure and an honor” successful an affectional goodbye to unit members shown successful the behind-the-scenes breakdown.

“I conscionable want to say, convey you,” nan “Drama” prima gushed. “I’m incredibly grateful for each azygous 1 one of you, galore of you person been present since nan opening and watched maine turn up.”

“I wanted to show this communicative for Angus and for group who weren’t granted a 2nd chance,” Levinson said. HBO MAX
Zendaya, for her part, called nan domiciled a “pleasure” and an “honor.” HBO MAX

Rue’s passing comes connected nan heels of Zendaya’s co-star Jacob Elordi’s characteristic Nate Jacobs’ gruesome death successful past week’s penultimate episode.

Other original formed members from nan series’ 2019 inception, from Sydney Sweeney’s Cassie Howard to Hunter Schafer’s Jules Vaughn, survived nan show.

Levinson cyrptically addressed Season 4 rumors successful nan Esquire interview, saying that while he didn’t time off “anything connected nan field,” he approaches “every play for illustration it’s nan last” and hasn’t officially closed nan door.

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