Euphoria creator Sam Levinson paid tribute to the late Angus Cloud at the HBO hit’s Season 3 premiere in Hollywood on Tuesday (April 7).
Cloud, who died of an accidental overdose in 2023, became a fan-favorite with his performance as Fezco in the first two seasons of the series. As Levinson teased in a red carpet interview with Variety on Tuesday, Fezco will “live on” in the new season, including through scenes featuring other characters talking to him on the phone.
“I thought if I couldn’t keep him alive in life, then maybe within this show that I can control I can keep him alive there,” Levinson, also Euphoria’s showrunner, said. “So I think the whole thing was a way to honor him and also I can’t wait for you to see the last few episodes, because I think he would be cracking up at his storyline. I think he would love it.”
During the same red carpet chat, as seen here, Levinson briefly mentioned Cloud when discussing the four-year gap between the second and third seasons of the Zendaya-led drama.
“There’s certain struggles that are outside of my control,” he said. “Strikes, things like that. Cast availability. And I think losing Angus was really hard for us as a production. I loved him very deeply, and I fought hard to keep him clean.”
Levinson reiterated these remarks when introducing the new season at Tuesday night’s premiere, with the late Eric Dane (who played Cal on the series) and Kevin Turen (an executive producer) also getting mentions.
“When Angus died, it was tough,” Levinson told those in attendance, per Deadline. “I loved him deeply, and I fought hard to keep him clean. The year he died, 2023, he was one of 73,000 people in America who died of a fentanyl overdose. I learned a whole lot that year. But what I realized more than anything is that death is what gives life meaning. You can't be arrogant about existence. You're forced to reckon with the fact that life itself is a wonder, a gift, a profound blessing.”
Euphoria, featuring a slew of returning stars and newcomers alike, kicks off its third season on April 12. If the latest trailer is any indication, a lot has changed for Rue and company since we last saw them.
