Sam Levinson, the creator of Euphoria, talked about the show’s most intimate scenes involving Sydney Sweeney and shared details about how sensitive content is managed during production in Hollywood.
On the latest episode of The New York Times’ Popcast podcast, showrunner Levinson discussed the nude scenes featuring Sweeney in Season 3. He revealed that Sweeney was the one who advocated for including them. Levinson remembered initially writing the scenes with the possibility of filming them without any actual nudity, just in case.
He explained that he’d suggested finding ways to work around certain topics, but she was shocked. She pointed out that she was an OnlyFans model and couldn’t understand why he’d suggest avoiding those subjects.
How Sydney Sweeney’s Controversial Euphoria Season 3 Scenes Were Handled On-Set
I thought, ‘That makes sense.’ We always talk about what’s best for the character,” Levinson explained. He then described the rules set by the Screen Actors Guild [SAG] regarding nudity in film and TV. These rules offer actors multiple layers of protection. While a production might initially agree to include nudity, they must first hire a professional intimacy coordinator, and actors always retain the right to decline any nude scene without needing to explain their decision.
Levinson praised Sweeney as a remarkably brave and professional actor. He highlighted her ability to easily adapt her performance, explaining that a simple request – like adding more humor or intensity – could completely transform a scene. He also noted the inherent absurdity of the story they were telling about the world of OnlyFans, which he found enjoyable to explore.
Why Euphoria Was Always Going to End In Tragedy
As a huge fan of Euphoria, I was relieved to see Cassie Howard, now Jacobs, survive Season 3, even though she went through so much. It was devastating watching the season unfold, especially as she and Nate Jacobs quickly got involved in the dangerous drug dealing that ultimately led to the deaths of so many characters – including Rue and, shockingly, even Nate himself. It was a wild ride, but I’m glad Cassie made it out, even if she’s definitely changed forever.
As a fan, I always found that scene – the one where the character was buried with rattlesnakes – really fascinating. The creator explained they were trying to walk a fine line. They wanted to give the audience that sense of ‘poetic justice’ we were all craving, but also make it deeply disturbing. It was like they were thinking, ‘How can I deliver the payoff everyone wants, but twist it into something so awful that people question if they really wanted it to happen?’ It’s a clever way to play with our expectations and make the moment truly unsettling.
The show’s creator has confirmed there won’t be a fourth season. While the ending was still uncertain when the final episode aired, Levinson explained that the story – focused on addiction and its effects – feels complete. He believes they’ve reached a natural conclusion.
Euphoria is currently available for streaming on HBO Max.
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2026-06-02 14:36