Kelvin Harrison Jr., the rising star of last year’s acclaimed indie filmsLuceandWaves, is in talks to join the cast of HBO’sEuphorianext season, Collider has exclusively learned.
Of course, when it comes to casting matters, it all comes down to scheduling, and given the current pandemic that has halted production around the world, it’s unclear when the second season ofEuphoriawill go before cameras. Scheduling is especially tricky in this case, asZendayahad been expected to start shooting the second season ofEuphoriathis spring while herSpider-Manco-starTom Hollandfilmed theUnchartedmovie for Sony. Both stars would have then segued into a planned summer shoot forSpider-Man 3.
While it remains unclear at this point when production will resume worldwide, industry sources are preparing to return to work this summer, as evidenced byDisney movingMulanto late July, andVarietyreporting late last month thatDoctor Strange 2remains on track for a summer start. Supposing that film and television production resumes this July, it’s unclear whether the entire Hollywood schedule will shift 3-4 months to accommodate suspended or cancelled productions, or whether summer shoots will hold firm, forcing the industry’s spring projects to wait until the fall or later to begin shooting.
Collider was unable to ascertain whetherSpider-Man 3orEuphoriais in first position for Zendaya, but suffice to say, one is a global blockbuster, and one is a (highly enjoyable) teen soap opera. Thus, the thinking is thatEuphoriaproducers will shoot what they can without Zendaya, or wait for her to wrapSpider-Manaltogether in order to keep that mega-production on track for its July 02, 2025 release. Either scenario will likely mean a significant delay for the second season ofEuphoria. The only recourse the show may have is for Sony to decide to pushSpider-Man 3and move forward withUnchartedwhileMark Wahlbergis still interested – his schedule permitting – which would allowEuphoriato start shooting as soon as Hollywood production resumes.
What does all this mean for Harrison, who has yet to formally sign on the dotted line forEuphoria, given the fact that all of Hollywood is self-quarantining at the moment? WithEuphoriaproduction dates still up in the air, I suppose it means that if Harrison is offered a giant movie, he still has some wiggle room to back out of the HBO show. Sources said that Harrison is expected to join theEuphoriacast, but anything could happen, since there are no guarantees right now when it comes to when Hollywood will resume production.
Regardless of what ultimately happens, I don’t have any details on the role Harrison is expected to play, or whether he’ll be positioned as a new romantic interest for Zendaya’s character. HBO declined to comment on his casting, and Harrison’s representatives did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Harrison got his start on the big screen in the historical dramas12 Years a SlaveandThe Birth of a Nationbefore landing a breakout role inIt Comes at Night. He followed that with turns in the acclaimed awards contenderMudboundas well as the buzzy festival filmsAssassination NationandMonsters and Men, the latter of which brought the first real glimpse of his dramatic potential. From there, Harrison’s career has taken off thanks to back-to-back star turns inLuceandWaves, the latter of which was produced byEuphoriaproducerKevin Turen.
Harrison recently starred in Universal’sThe Photographand the indie movieThe Wolf Hour, and he’ll soon be seen oppositeDakota Johnsonin Focus' romantic dramaThe High Note, as well as inAaron Sorkin’s highly anticipated courtroom dramaTrial of the Chicago 7. He’s represented by WME, Stride Management and attorney Nina Shaw.
For more on season two ofEuphoria,click herefor our interview withStorm Reid, who plays Zendaya’s younger sister.
