Nika King shares how 'Euphoria' is different from the Israeli crime drama the show is based on: 'It is its own reality'
HBO has just dropped the trailer for its upcoming teenage drama series 'Euphoria' and it looks nothing short of exhilarating! The network has decided to keep the show's trailer as snappy and mysterious as its teaser which had released earlier. The series, which follows a bunch of high-school students as they navigate "drugs, sex, identity, trauma, social media, love, and friendship", is based on an Israeli TV show of the same name, which revolves around the infamous murder case of Ra'anan Levy.
While the Israeli drama focused on Levy's murder, 'Euphoria' seems to shift its focus to Zendaya's character Rue, a troubled teenager who's struggling with drug addiction. Actor Nika King plays the role of Leslie, the tough and determined mother of Rue (Zendaya) and Gia (Storm Reid) in the show. "I’ve looked for the show online but I haven’t been able to find it," King tells MEA WorldWide ( MEAWW) about the Israeli series.
Levy was killed in December 2004 after talking to a girl at a Shefayim club, which led to a fight with her boyfriend. The boyfriend then called his friends, who chased Levy and allegedly stabbed him in the chest, killing him.
"I see this show ('Euphoria') as its own distinct project that will tackle so many issues not just with teenagers. The parents in the show are extremely complex and well written. It really is a complete look at the nucleus of a family fighting to stay above ground," added King. "I think Zendaya’s character has a story to tell and fans are going on a journey with her. Even though it’s a remake, Euphoria is its own reality of what a drug-addicted teenager faces on a daily basis."
King tells MEAWW that when she was reading the script, her "mouth was literally agape the whole time." "I was excited to see where the story would go and I was not disappointed. Every episode is dynamic," she said about the upcoming series, which has been described as a teenage version of crime drama series 'Trainspotting'.
Sam Levinson, who previously wrote and directed last year’s Sundance entry 'Assassination Nation', both wrote and created the series. The cast also includes Maude Apatow, Brian "Astro" Bradley, Eric Dane, Angus Cloud, Alexa Demie, Jacob Elordi, Hunter Schafer, Austin Abrams, and Sydney Sweeney.
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