Zendaya just landed a huge role in a brand new HBO series — and Drake is an executive producer
After a stint as a trapeze artist in The Greatest Showman and years of starring as an uncover spy in Disney Channel’s K.C. Undercover, Zendaya is gearing up for her next role as the lead in an upcoming HBO drama pilot, Euphoria. But unlike her previous characters, the 21-year-old actress will portray a lying, drug-addled teenager named Rue. Talk about something completely different.
Euphoria, based on an Israeli series of the same name, is advertised as a story about “drugs, sex, identity, trauma, social media, love, and friendship.”
According to Deadline, the show follows the true account of a teenager who died outside of a club. The series will be set a year after the incident, and will revolve around the lives of the teens involved and the different ways in which they choose to cope. The original drama premiered back in 2012, but HBO only ordered the project to pilot early this year. It’s now been officially picked up to series, and even more exciting, Aubrey Graham — aka Drake — is coming on as an executive producer.
As if the series premise and lead star aren’t enough to make us want to watch, Zendaya is joined by a set of equally awesome castmembers: Maude Apatow (of Girl‘s fame, and Judd Apatow’s daughter) will star as Lexi, Brian Bradley as McKay, Angus Cloud as Fezco, Grey’s Anatomy alum, Eric Dane as Cal, Alexa Demie as Maddy, and Barbie Ferreira as Kat. The Kissing Booth hottie Nico Elordi and A Wrinkle in Time star Storm Reid are also part of the slate as Nate and Gia, along with Nika King as Leslie, Hunter Schafer as Jules, and Sydney Sweeney as Cassie.
The Wizard of Lies writer Sam Levinson will pen the script and the show’s co-creators Ron Leshem, Daphna Levin, and Tmira Yardeni will serve as executive producers. A24, the company behind films like Lady Bird, Moonlight, and The Disaster Artist will produce for the cable network. Never Goin’ Back director Augustine Frizzell will direct the pilot and co-executive produce.
With such a promising cast and crew, Euphoria is undoubtedly headed for success.