Zendaya Talks Hopes for Rue in Season Three of ‘Euphoria’ – Billboard

On Sunday afternoon (Dec. 18) , Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Hunter Schafer and Maude Apatow took half in an awards season Q&A for his or her hit present Euphoria, accompanying a screening of season two’s fifth episode, “Stand Nonetheless Just like the Hummingbird.”

The episode was largely seen because the season’s breakout, as Golden Globe nominee Zendaya’s Rue runs all through the night time to evade police, drug sellers and her mom’s makes an attempt to deliver her to rehab — whereas additionally revealing Cassie’s (Sweeney) secret relationship with Nate (Jacob Elordi). Creator Sam Levinson had initially written a wholly totally different model of the season, however Zendaya stated that the plan for this stand-alone episode at all times remained fairly fixed.

“There was a a lot sadder ending to this season, and so we have been pondering, ‘We will’t go away her right here, she means an excessive amount of to us,’” Zendaya instructed the gang contained in the Paramount Theater. “I feel, collectively, as a individuals, all of us wanted somewhat little bit of hope. We wanted one thing to sit up for, some goodness and a few pleasure, and looking for that in a really painful time,” as they labored on the second season amid the pandemic.

“That felt very related to, I feel, lots of people, but in addition essential to me relating to Rue. I would like individuals to know that there’s something lovely inside her, whether or not she will be able to see it at the moment or not,” the star and govt producer continued. “So then, he proceeded to utterly change the ending, and it led to essentially the most lovely approach and essentially the most unbelievable performances that you just guys delivered to life that blow my thoughts. And actually, the thought [is] that artwork can save lives in some ways. So it went by means of many iterations, however I’m grateful the place it ended, and I’m grateful for all of the tales that have been then shared with me after that ending.”

The forged additionally mentioned every of their characters’ arcs in that pivotal episode (which initially aired in February) and the logistics of that Rue run (which absolutely performed a component in Zendaya’s second Emmy win in September). With a 3rd season on the horizon, the celebs have been additionally requested what “euphoria” appears to be like like to every of their characters going ahead.

Sweeney stated that for Cassie it might be a household, as “she’s searching for a household in everybody else. She appears to be like for it and her associates, she appears to be like for it within the guys,” and Apatow stated for Lexi it’s “freedom from your self and your ideas and damaging ideas, damaging self-talk. As soon as that’s out of the way in which. you may understand your full potential, and I feel that’ll in all probability [be] hers: cease attacking herself.”

“Every of those characters have their very own vice in a approach, and I feel the product of Jules’ vice that she’s searching for is closeness with different individuals and feeling affirmed in that closeness with none judgment or actual connection and security in that connection,” Schafer added for her character. “I feel she finds it in not the most effective methods a whole lot of the time, however I feel finish of the day, it’s what she’s searching for — what she is aware of is there with, Rue however there’s stuff in the way in which; what she is aware of is along with her dad, however there’s stuff in the way in which; what she is aware of may very well be with Elliot, however he’s an addict and every little thing.”

Lastly, Zendaya stated for Rue, her one want “is actually simply to have the ability to be alive and possibly take pleasure in it.” She stated Rue looks like she’s at all times drowning and hopes that she will be able to, for a second, simply be capable of breathe and maintain her head above water with “somewhat little bit of happiness and somewhat little bit of pleasure.”

“And I do know that she will be able to do it as a result of Sam wrote it, and Sam is Rue, and he’s carried out it,” Zendaya continued, as her character is famously primarily based off of the creator’s personal struggles with dependancy. “He’s proof that there’s hope for Rue and anybody like Rue, and from the attractive letters and individuals who have reached out — I’m so grateful for these experiences when any person comes as much as me, they usually talk about Rue and the way they’ve related to her or no matter a part of their therapeutic journey she has been in a position to be part of. To me that’s the biggest, biggest reward I can ever ask, it offers me euphoria and goal in what I do.”

“I simply hope for somewhat little bit of pleasure and for her simply to have the ability to breathe and love with out the concern of shedding,” she added. “I imply she’s gonna must undergo some issues, sure, however you recognize, we’ll get there.”

This text initially appeared on The Hollywood Reporter.