A “White Lotus” cast member is checking out early. (Very early.)
Helena Bonham Carter, who was set to star in Season 4 of HBO’s luxury dramedy, has dropped out of the cast, just a week after filming began, Deadline reports.
“With filming just underway on Season 4 of ‘The White Lotus,’ it had become apparent that the character which Mike White created for Helena Bonham Carter did not align once on set,” HBO said in a statement. “The role has subsequently been rethought, is being rewritten and will be recast in the coming weeks. HBO, the producers and Mike White are saddened that they won’t get to work with her, but remain ardent fans and very much hope to work with the legendary actress on another project soon.”
Deadline adds that series creator Mike White “felt that her character as originally conceived was not what it should be” once he saw Carter shoot her first scenes. “With the role believed to be central to the Season 4 story, a decision was made to rework it and recast it.” Filming on Season 4 is continuing as scheduled.
Carter was set to lead an all-star cast
“The White Lotus” always attracts A-list talent to its cast, with each season following a new group of hotel guests and employees at a far-off location. And Season 4 was set to be no exception, with Carter — best known for films like “Fight Club” and for playing Princess Margaret on “The Crown” — poised to join Chris Messina, Steve Coogan, Kumail Nanjiani, Sandra Bernhard, Heather Graham, and Max Greenfield in the cast.
Season 4 is especially glamorous, too, set in the French Riviera during the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. (That means we may see some of the actors in the cast playing actors, or even themselves.) The season will mainly film in Cannes, Saint-Tropez, and Monaco, with some additional filming in Paris. Series creator Mike White will once again write and direct all episodes in Season 4. (For more on Season 4, here’s everything we know so far.)
Are you disappointed we won’t see Helena Bonham Carter ordering room service at “The White Lotus”? Hit the comments to share your thoughts.