{"id":4286,"date":"2026-06-01T21:45:43","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T21:45:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/why-euphoria-ends-an-era-for-more-than-just-zendaya-star-studded-cast\/"},"modified":"2026-06-01T21:45:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T21:45:43","slug":"why-euphoria-ends-an-era-for-more-than-just-zendaya-star-studded-cast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/why-euphoria-ends-an-era-for-more-than-just-zendaya-star-studded-cast\/","title":{"rendered":"Why &#8216;Euphoria&#8217; ends an era for more than just Zendaya, star-studded cast"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/wp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F3%2F2026%2F06%2FUntitled-1-copy-1.jpg?quality%3D90%26strip%3Dall\" \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong><em>Warning: Spoilers ahead! Do not proceed unless you\u2019ve watched the Season 3 finale of \u201cEuphoria.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cEuphoria\u201d is over, and good riddance to its<a href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2026\/05\/31\/entertainment\/euphoria-ending-explained-rues-fate\/\"> bizarre third and final season.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s the end of an era for Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, and Sydney Sweeney. The show launched three of today\u2019s biggest superstars, and they all <a href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2026\/05\/31\/entertainment\/does-zendayas-rue-die-in-the-euphoria-season-3-finale\/\">acknowledge that they grew up on<\/a> it. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>It\u2019s the end of an era for Zendaya\u2019s Rue, who died in \u201cEuphoria\u201d Season 3.  <span class=\"credit\">Eddy Chen\/HBO<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>\u201cEuphoria\u201d launched Elordi (pictured), Zendaya, and Sydney Sweeney.  <span class=\"credit\">Eddy Chen\/HBO<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Aside from the cast, however, this also marks the end of the era of the \u201cauteur\u201d TV creator.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>The edgy HBO drama was Sam Levinson\u2019s singular vision. He was its creator \/ writer \/ director, and didn\u2019t have a writers\u2019 room. That\u2019s becoming a rarity.<\/p>\n<p>Auteur filmmakers are still booming on the big screen: Wes Anderson, Guillermo del Toro, Paul Thomas Anderson, Sofia Coppola, Emerald Fennell, Robert Eggers.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>They all have well-known sensibilities, themes, styles. Just stating any of their names signals what kind of moviegoing experience you\u2019re in for.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Sam Levinson (pictured at the \u201cEuphoria\u201d Season 3 premiere with Sydney Sweeney) is one of the dwindling \u201cauteur\u201d TV creators.  <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Levinson (pictured with Zendaya in 2019) was a one-man army behind \u201cEuphoria.\u201d  <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images for HBO<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Saying, \u201cI\u2019m watching a Sam Levinson show\u201d comes with a similar set of expectations.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s not true for another recent hit, \u201cThe Pitt,\u201d which has a traditional writers\u2019 room.\u00a0Not to discount <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/02\/12\/entertainment\/the-pitt-creator-r-scott-gemmill-on-that-shocking-season-2-death\/\">the medical drama\u2019s creator, R. Scott Gemmill<\/a>\u2018s work, but nobody talks about him in the same way. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cHeated Rivalry\u201d became a phenomenon because of the two lead performances. The man behind the curtain, Jacob Tierney, has rightfully been lauded, but his name doesn\u2019t carry the same weight, either.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Levinson (pictured in 2022 with Eric Dane, Colman Domingo, Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, Angus Cloud, Maude Apatow, Dominic Fike and Austin Abrams) has established sensibilities and a style.   <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images for HBO<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Levinson (pictured at the \u201cEuphoria\u201d Season 3 premiere with Alexa Demie, Sydney Sweeney, Maude Apatow, Sam Levinson and Hunter Schafer) never had a traditional writers room.  <span class=\"credit\">Variety via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The idea of a TV show coming from a single artist has been floundering for years. <\/p>\n<p>When \u201cTrue Detective\u201d Season 1 became a sensation in 2014, its creator, Nic Pizzolatto, was hailed as the Next Big Thing\u2026until that fizzled out.<\/p>\n<p>His time on the throne was short, as he disgraced himself with the universally panned second season. That show is still on, but the acclaimed fourth season (which aired in 2024) had a different captain steering the ship (Issa Lopez).<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Nic Pizzolatto was also considered an \u201cauteur\u201d TV creator, until that fizzled out.  <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>\u201cEuphoria\u201d (pictured with Zendaya in Season 3) is finally over.  <span class=\"credit\">HBO<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>When \u201cEuphoria\u201d first premiered in 2019, Levinson also demonstrated the pitfalls of a TV show as a one-man army.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It had a notoriously troubled production, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedailybeast.com\/euphoria-season-2-crew-and-background-actors-speak-out-against-sam-levinsons-toxic-production\/\">allegations of a \u201ctoxic\u201d<\/a> work environment, <a href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2026\/04\/11\/entertainment\/all-the-euphoria-controversies-zendaya-and-sydney-sweeneys-alleged-feud-cast-deaths-and-more\/\">countless behind the scenes dramas and scandals<\/a>, and a delayed production, with four years between Seasons 2 and 3.<\/p>\n<p>Would things have been different, if more people were in charge? It\u2019s hard to say, but a democracy is always better than a dictatorship.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>With one man running \u201cEuphoria\u201d (pictured with Sweeney and Demie in Season 3), there was lots of behind the scenes drama.  <span class=\"credit\">HBO<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>\u201cEuphoria\u201d (pictured with Sweeney and Elordi) was beset by production delays and allegations of a \u201ctoxic\u201d environment.  <span class=\"credit\">HBO<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>There are still big names out there on the small screen.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Take <a href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2026\/05\/28\/entertainment\/yellowstone-creator-taylor-sheridan-is-king-of-dad-tv-shows\/\">Taylor Sheridan,<\/a> for example. Similar to Levinson, he\u2019s got a reputation for a \u201clone ranger\u201d approach.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cYellowstone\u201d creator has publicly scoffed at the idea of collaborating with other writers \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hollywoodreporter.com\/tv\/tv-features\/taylor-sheridan-yellowstone-interview-1235519261\/\">telling The Hollywood Reporter<\/a>, \u201cI will tell my stories my way\u201d \u2014 and he\u2019s usually also wearing multiple hats: writing, directing, producing. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Taylor Sheridan (pictured with Kevin Costner in 2018) was an auteur TV creator, like Levinson, and also had behind the scenes drama.  <span class=\"credit\">Penske Media via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Taylor Sheridan is a one man army, running his shows similar to Levinson\u2019s \u201cEuphoria\u201d (pictured in Season 3 with Sweeney)  <span class=\"credit\">HBO MAX<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>But lately, Sheridan has delegated both \u201cYellowstone\u201d spinoffs \u201cDutton Ranch\u201d and \u201cMarshals\u201d to other showrunners.<\/p>\n<p>He has various levels of involvement in his other shows, including \u201cLandman,\u201d \u201cTulsa King,\u201d and \u201cThe Madison.\u201d He\u2019s not singlehandedly manning them all.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>When Sheridan was handling \u201cYellowstone\u201d more like a one-man army, similar to Levinson, the show got overshadowed by behind the scenes drama, <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2023\/06\/21\/taylor-sheridan-breaks-silence-on-costner-god-complex-rumors\/\">feud rumors,<\/a> and delays.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s almost like it\u2019s a pattern. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Ryan Murphy (pictured in 2025) also has a TV empire, but he delegates.  <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>\u201cLove Story\u201d (pictured with Sarah Pidgeon and Paul Anthony Kelly) was a hit, but Murphy was more hands-off with it.  <span class=\"credit\">FX<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Other big names like Ryan Murphy and Shonda Rhimes have TV empires.\u00a0When \u201cLove Story\u201d became a hit in the spring, it was billed as a \u201cRyan Murphy\u201d show, but it was created by Connor Hines. It wasn\u2019t Murphy\u2019s singular artist vision.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBridgerton\u201d is also often referred to as, \u201ca Shonda Rhimes show,\u201d but it\u2019s also not a solo act; it\u2019s gone through various showrunners. Mindy Kaling\u2019s shows are similar.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The idea of the \u201cauteur TV creator\u201d isn\u2019t completely dead, the way Rue (Zendaya) and Nate (Elordi) are on \u201cEuphoria\u201d (too soon?).<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Shonda Rhimes (pictured in 2022 with Chris Van Dusen, Ted Sarandos, Simone Ashley, Jonathan Bailey, Charithra Chandran, Betsy Beers) runs \u201cBridgerton\u201d but delegates.  <span class=\"credit\">Lia Toby\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Mike White (pictured in 2022 with Sweeney, Natasha Rothwell, Connie Britton, Jennifer Coolidge, and Alexandra Daddario) is another auteur TV creator with no writers\u2019 room.  <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cBaby Reindeer\u201d and <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/04\/21\/entertainment\/baby-reindeer-creator-richard-gadds-next-show-half-man-is-brutal-review\/\">\u201cHalf Man\u201d creator\/star Richard Gadd<\/a> and \u201cThe White Lotus\u201d creator Mike White are both keeping the concept limping forward.\u00a0Like Levinson, White doesn\u2019t use a writers\u2019 room, either.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It still means something if you say, \u201cI\u2019m watching a Vince Gilligan show,\u201d or \u201ca Duffer Brothers show.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Increasingly, today there are shows that<em> feel<\/em> like singular visions from one specific voice, even when they have writers rooms (like \u201cSeverance\u201d or \u201cYour Friends and Neighbors\u201d).\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Richard Gadd (pictured in 2026) is another current auteur TV creator.  <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>It still means something to say you\u2019re watching a \u201cDuffer Brothers show\u201d (pictured in 2025 with Millie Bobby Brown).  <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>At its best, \u201cEuphoria\u201d could demonstrate what a show from a singular artistic mind feels like. It could be dazzling, unique, cinematic.\u00a0There was a reason it<a href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2026\/04\/10\/entertainment\/how-euphoria-was-a-crazy-starmaker-for-zendaya-jacob-elordi-and-sydney-sweeney\/\"> launched three of today\u2019s biggest stars<\/a>, and there\u2019s a reason that everyone has been talking about Season 3, even when it\u2019s bad. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>At its worst, however, it feels like \u201cEuphoria\u201d was made by one self-indulgent guy who had too many cheerleaders, and not enough people saying, \u201cNo. No, maybe we shouldn\u2019t spend time zooming in on a stripper\u2019s butt, instead of giving Hunter Schafer a real plot.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEuphoria\u201d ushered in a new era of movie stars.\u00a0It also dealt a well-earned blow to the idea that a TV show should hail from one single \u201cartistic genius.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Maybe that notion should be buried in the desert \u2014 alongside Nate.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2026\/06\/01\/entertainment\/why-euphoria-ends-an-era-for-more-than-just-zendaya-star-studded-cast\/\" target=\"_blank\">Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Warning: Spoilers ahead! Do not proceed unless you\u2019ve watched the Season 3 finale of \u201cEuphoria.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4287,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Untitled-1-copy-1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4286"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4286\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}