The White Lotus season four has already served up its first plot twist and filming hasn’t even properly begun.
Helena Bonham Carter, 59, shocked fans when she abruptly departed the upcoming season just days after production got underway in the South of France.
Variety then claimed that Helena left due to “creative differences” with creator and director Mike White, who wanted a more “boisterous performance” from her.
Now, her co-star Steve Coogan has broken his silence on the drama, revealing why Helena was replaced by Laura Dern on the hit HBO series.
“It just went in a different direction,” he told Deadline. “It was like, sometimes you find that something isn’t working the way you want it to, in terms of, like, the character and the dynamic of the whole story.
“So that was just a mutual decision… The whole part was rewritten from scratch.”
Steve, also known as Alan Partridge – the name of his comedy persona, added that he’s “really enjoying” working on The White Lotus and praised showrunner White for allowing actors to improvise on set.
Laura won’t be stepping directly into Helena’s role but will be playing an entirely new character, meaning the show’s season four story is already being reshaped around her.
It’s not the first time that Laura has worked with The White Lotus creator Mike White either.
The pair go back nearly two decades — she starred in his directorial debut Year of the Dog in 2007, before the two reunited for HBO comedy-drama Enlightened, which ran for two seasons from 2011 to 2013.
White clearly knows what he’s got in Dern, and after the chaos of the past week, it sounds like he moved fast to get her on board.
Scroll on for everything you need to know about The White Lotus season four, including the filming location and stars.
What is happening with The White Lotus season 4?
Even though it will be a while until season four airs, drama is already brewing on set.
Nine days into production, HBO confirmed that Helena would no longer be in the show.
In a statement to Deadline, a HBO representative said that the British actress left The White Lotus due to creative differences over her starring role.
“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,” a HBO spokesperson said.
“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.”
The actress was the first cast member White pursued for the show’s fourth season and was at the top of the director’s wish list.
Her character was reportedly central to the storyline, per Deadline.
But this isn’t the only drama on set.
Before this, one production source told New Idea that the show’s producers have created a set of non-negotiable rules the cast and crew are expected to follow.
“Last season [which was filmed in Thailand] was a massive hit with critics and audiences, but it was also famously mired in drama and infighting among the multi-generational cast,” they explained.
While the season three actors gained more fame from the show’s success, it was notoriously a challenge to shoot.
“With everything written and shooting on the verge of kicking off, creator Mike White, HBO, and the other producers are being more careful than ever about ensuring their huge new cast doesn’t get into petty ego battles that cause problems when you’re promoting the show months later when it’s released,” they continued.
The source even alleged that this season will be “locking down”, where cast trailers are banned, and their representatives won’t be able to visit them. Social media posts are reportedly also going to be regulated to ensure that things don’t get out of hand.
“The show really grabs people, and it turns reliable, semi-famous actors into much bigger stars, for three seasons going,” the source revealed. “The payoff is going to be worth the temporary headaches, if history is any guide!”
What is The White Lotus about?
If you’ve seen it everywhere and feel like you’ve been missing out on any The White Lotus conversations, here’s what you need to know.
The White Lotus is a dark comedy series that follows individuals who visit White Lotus resorts worldwide.
Their stays are impacted by mishaps, employee exploits, drama, and, of course, death.
At the start of each season, we see someone has died, and fans try to figure out who the victims and murderers are.
It’s a social satire, with a hint of murder thrown in for good measure.
Each season stands on its own, so you can generally watch in whichever order you choose.
Is there a season four of The White Lotus?
Luckily for us, the season was given the green light by HBO in January 2025!
Filming has already begun and is due to finish at the end of October.
According to Forbes, which cited a press release from Warner Bros. Discovery, the story will take place over a single week at the Cannes Film Festival.
The publication also reported that it will require more than 50 days of shooting, which will be spread across four months.
HBO has a marketing partnership with the Four Seasons hotel chain, which has been a focal point of the series. However, season three, which was shot in Thailand, used three other hotels.
It’s possible that the next season will be released in late 2026 or early 2027, so we will have to wait and see.
The third season of The White Lotus was shot in Thailand. (Credit: HBO)
Where will The White Lotus season 4 be?
Each season is set in a different picturesque location, on a fictional resort called The White Lotus.
It has previously been filmed in Hawaii, Sicily, and Thailand, and the location for season four has been revealed.
Deadline reported that France was eyed for the next chapter, which was later confirmed.
Variety also reported that it will be shot in Saint Tropez, with Warner Bros. Discovery revealing which five-star hotels will be used for the show.
Per Forbes, Airelles Château de la Messardière will be rebranded to White Lotus du Cap, and Hôtel Martinez will be known as White Lotus Cannes during the show.
Throughout the season, we will also see Palais des Festivals et des Congrès and other locations in Cannes, St. Tropez and Monaco, with some filming also set to take place in Paris.
Who is in the cast of season four of The White Lotus?
Each season is stacked with a phenomenal cast, and this upcoming season is no exception.
Vikings star Alexander Ludwig and former Disney star AJ Michalka were the first two confirmed stars for season four.
Some survivors from previous seasons might return, but we will mainly get a fresh cast.
Steve Coogan, Marissa Long, Alexander Ludwig, and Chris Messina will also be checking into The White Lotus hotel.
Australian newcomer Caleb Jonte Edwards will also be making up the cast.
In March, HBO then confirmed that Chloe Bennet, Max Greenfield, Heather Graham, Laura Smet, Frida Gustavsson, Rosie Perez, Dylan Ennis, Sandra Bernhard, Charlie Hall, Kumail Nanjiani, Ari Graynor, Vincent Cassel, Corentin Fila, Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Ben Schnetzer, and Jarrad Paul would round out the cast.
With Helena Bonham Carter’s shock departure, there is also the addition of Laura Dern to the list of stars joining the show.
Where can I watch The White Lotus in Australia?
You can watch all three seasons of The White Lotus on HBO Max.
