When Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje learned about the character he was to play in season three of Euphoria, he was thrilled. Being a new addition to an established cast naturally comes with nerves and anticipation, but when you’re playing a character as complex and ruthless as Alamo Brown, it’s easy to see the appeal. “He’s just the sort of a guy you’d want to take home to meet your mother,” says Akinnuoye-Agbaje jokingly. “Especially if she likes strip clubs.” 

Described as a “‘lock-up-your-daughters’ kinda guy”, Akinnuoye-Agbaje explains Brown is a “Black southern cowboy”, and central to helping director Sam Levinson execute the Western theme that dominates season three (more on that later). Brown’s business of choice is strip clubs, and profitable ones at that, as well as side hustles involving drugs and guns. Like Akinnuoye-Agbaje said, Brown is a real stand-up guy. However, as anyone who’s seen Euphoria knows, it’s these characters that will have you hooked. 

HBO’s second most-watched show ever (behind only Game of Thrones), and amassing an average audience of 16.3 million viewers per episode, Euphoria is nothing short of a cultural phenomenon. It gave stage to some of the world’s biggest young actors when it premiered in 2019, launching the careers of Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi and Zendaya – who are all still under the age of 30 and essentially grew up on the show. 

The actors are undeniably intrinsic to Euphoria’s success, but so is its subject matter. Following a group of troubled teenagers through high school and into adulthood, the show shines a light on the struggles of modern adolescence, and has been praised for its raw, pin-sharp perspective on the growing drug problem among American teens, while also exploring themes of mental health, sexuality, and trauma. It doesn’t sound all that jolly, but for audiences interested in riveting drama and actors looking for a character with real bite, Euphoria delivers. 

Akinnuoye-Agbaje says: “I wasn’t necessarily privy to the world of Euphoria before I was invited to be a part of it. Before taking on the job, I did my research and binge-watched the first two seasons, and I was blown away by the realism and brilliance of the performances from this young cast. The common denominator being [director] Sam Levinson and how he’s managed to create this world and vision, while corralling these actors and eliciting such great performances from them. 

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Alamo Brown in Euphoria season three. Image: HBO Max

“The rest of the principal cast have grown up on the show and so they had quite a significant bond and click, which was great for my character because he was somewhat of an outsider coming into that which was quite organic.

“The subject matters are very tricky and complex, and socially relevant; we talk about the impact of drugs on a young generation and this is very real. There are no punches pulled in this season, so I was excited to see how my character could contribute.” 

As this season’s bad guy, Brown naturally has some run-ins with Rue Bennett, played by the uber-talented Zendaya. Vulnerable and deeply complex, fighting drug addiction while grieving her father, Rue is undoubtedly one of the most troubled and beloved characters, as much damaged as she is relatable. In season three, we find her running fentanyl from the US across the Mexican border so she can pay back the debt she owes drug queen Laurie (Martha Kelly). Which is where Brown comes in. 

“At the time we meet him in the show, Brown has arrived at a point in his life where he’s built an empire and he’s always looking to expand it,” explains Akinnuoye-Agbaje. “When he meets Rue, played by the wonderful Zendaya, she offers an opportunity for him to expand his enterprises into the Gen Z digital world. It’s an interesting alliance. He’s always been able to assess people’s qualities; where he can see that he can manipulate to utilise your talents for his own means, he will.” 

While Rue and Brown’s relationship turns tumultuous, Zendaya and Akinnuoye-Agbaje’s is anything but. “Zendaya is an extremely talented and smart young actress. She’s got a great sense of humour, as will be seen in some of the scenes that we did together. She’s generous as well; she’s there for her scene partner, regardless of how many takes it may take or how complex the scene is. I found that gratifying.” 

So, is it as fun playing the baddie as other actors have led us to believe? “I’ve never really thought of those types of characters as bad guys; I’ve thought of them as men who made choices based on their circumstances,” says Akinnuoye-Agbaje. “If I look at them as bad guys, you end up making a caricature as opposed to a character. I have tried to inject some humility, humour and texture into that. 

“Obviously, there is an enjoyment to playing a character that has no boundaries; there’s a freedom and liberation in choices you can make and that’s really exciting for me as an actor. The idea of playing a character that is so far removed from who I am, whether culturally or my accent, [...] is really fun to embrace.”

The last episode of Euphoria aired in 2022, so with four years of pent-up anticipation behind season three, it’s safe to say this is one of the most exciting TV releases of 2026. “It’s an organic jump in the journey of Euphoria as we go five years into the future. Not only do we grow up with them in high school, but we follow them making their choices as adults in the real world. It will take a different tone.” 

What’s perhaps most exciting about this season, however, is that it looks like something straight out of an American Western. Shot on a combination of 35mm and 65mm Kodak film in Los Angeles, Akinnuoye-Agbaje says he was instantly enthralled by Levinson’s vision. “He said he was very inspired by Sergio Leone’s Westerns, such as Once Upon a Time in the West and A Fistful of Dollars, and [actors] like Eli Wallach. I was curious how he was going to wrap that around the world of Euphoria but when you see it, it really works.

“It’s like a modern-day Western and Alamo Brown is the anchor of that world as a cowboy. He is really going to serve a rude awakening; if you are going to make choices that are not legitimate, Brown will show you the consequences of those choices. It’s going to be a really epic and interesting ride for the audience.” Rue better watch her back, then. 

Post-Euphoria, there’s plenty more Akinnuoye-Agbaje coming to our screens this year. Slated to be released in July 2026, he will have a lead role opposite Alex Pettyfer and Guy Pearce in director Ben Cookson’s Blurred: a neo-noir erotic-thriller set in New York's fashion world and the city's underbelly. “The narrative and story is quite blurred because you don’t know who has committed the crime or who is guilty,” explains Akinnuoye-Agbaje. “It’s all up for the audience to decide and you have to pay attention to every beat.”

Akinnuoye-Agbaje is also interested in getting back behind the camera. Following the success of his directorial debut, Farming, in 2018, in which he also starred and produced, he says: “It’s made me a much better and grateful actor. Being a filmmaker, the process is incredibly complex, arduous and the hats you have to wear – I wrote, directed, starred in, did all of the music – is a lot. It was a huge learning curve.

“It expanded my repertoire in ways I will always be grateful for and [...] gave me a real appreciation for the craft of acting; I’m no longer as precious about a line,” he laughs. “Filmmaking is largely about perspective and what’s exciting for me is to bring one that’s not been seen before.” Watch this space. 

Euphoria season three is available to stream on HBO Max now. 

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