Spider-Man 4 Star Zendaya Raves About One Perfect Celebrity — And It’s Not Tom Holland

Quick rewind to 2019: before the internet turned Tom-and-Zendaya into a full-time spectator sport, Zendaya was busy praising a different person in her orbit — her Euphoria co-star Hunter Schafer. And honestly, she did not hold back.

Zendaya on Hunter Schafer, day-one Euphoria era

In a post-season-1 chat with Collider back in 2019, Zendaya lit up talking about working with Schafer on the HBO drama. This is one of those quotes that sticks:

She is an angel. She is a truly perfect person, through and through. When she comes into a room, she is like this ray of sunshine that reflects off of everyone. I can not even think of more positive things to say about her, as a human. She is just amazing.

Given how close their characters get on the show, it tracks that the affection spilled over off set too. Euphoria was a breakout for a lot of the cast — Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeney — and that first season built some very real bonds.

Quick refresher on Rue and Jules

Schafer plays Jules Vaughn, who befriends Rue Bennett (Zendaya) after Rue gets out of rehab. That friendship turns romantic and, as you probably remember, things get complicated fast. Jules cheats on Rue, then when she finds out Rue has relapsed, she tells Rue's parents — which blows everything up. By the end of season 2, Rue decides to let go of Jules and focus on getting better. That is where the show leaves them... for now.

Season 3 is coming — with a time jump

HBO is moving forward with a third season, and both Zendaya and Hunter Schafer are back as Rue and Jules. The new season jumps ahead five years, which is a bold choice for a story that lives in the mess of teen years. Schafer said in 2022 that Jules is still craving closeness and wants to feel validated in it — and she knows she has that with Rue. In other words, that door is not closed. Whether that means reconciliation or fresh heartbreak, this show rarely goes for the easy ending.

• Episodes: 26
• Premiered: June 16, 2019
• IMDb: 8.2/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
• Where to watch: HBO Max
• Season 3 expected release (USA): April 2026

So, do Rue and Jules find their way back to each other, or do they just carve out separate, healthier paths? Place your bets — this one feels like it could swing from devastating to redemption-arc-of-the-year in a single episode.