The highly anticipated season three of Euphoria is less than two weeks away, and it’s set to feature some new and returning faces, while also bringing back one familiar face for the last time.
The majority of the cast from seasons one and two are returning for the third chapter in the edgy HBO Max drama, including Aussie actor Jacob Elordi, his onscreen wife Sydney Sweeney, and Zendaya as the deeply troubled Rue, whose messy life remains the heart of the story.
New cast members such as Natasha Lyonne, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Sharon Stone have also got fans excited as the trio appeared in the first official trailer released by HBO on Tuesday.
However, it was the sighting of Eric Dane in his last ever onscreen appearance before his tragic death in February that really moved fans.
“Seeing Eric Dane in the Euphoria trailer really threw me for a loop,” one tweeted on X, as another wrote, “I just saw the new #Euphoria trailer and seeing Eric Dane made me cry.”
“Seeing eric dane in the euphoria trailer is like a knife in the heart,” added another, as one commented, “I watched the trailer and almost shed a tear seeing eric dane.”
Season 2 finished airing back in 2022 and the new season picks up the story five years later with Rue and co all graduated from high school and finding their way in the real world as young adults.
Dane reprised his role for the last time as Cal Jacobs, the father of Elordi’s character Nate. It remains to be seen whether there is any hope for their complex relationship, but it appears Cal is as secretive as ever in the trailer when he bumps into former flame Jules (Hunter Schafer).
“Remember me?” she says to him at a bar, to which he replies, “How could I forget?”
Dane passed away in February at age 53 after a years-long battle with ALS – a rare degenerative disease that causes progressive paralysis of the muscles and currently has no cure.
He first made his diagnosis public in August last year – the same time he was due back on set of Euphoria to film the new season.
“I have been diagnosed with ALS. I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter,” he said in a statement at the time.
“I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to set of Euphoria next week. I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time.”
Euphoria creator Sam Levinson was among the first to pay tribute to Dane following his death.
“I’m heartbroken by the loss of our dear friend Eric,” Levinson said in a statement to Variety at the time. “Working with him was an honour. Being his friend was a gift. Eric’s family is in our prayers. May his memory be forever a blessing.”