Helena Bonham Carter will no longer appear in the upcoming fourth season of The White Lotus, multiple media outlets reported. The actress was first announced as part of the cast in January, and production on season four is underway in the south of France. HBO announced her departure just over a week after production began.
An HBO spokesperson stated that the character created for Helena Bonham Carter did not align once on set. The role is being rethought, rewritten, and will be recast in the coming weeks. HBO, the producers, and Mike White are saddened and hope to work with Helena Bonham Carter on another project, the spokesperson added.
According to Deadline, citing undisclosed sources, Helena Bonham Carter had already filmed several scenes before Mike White felt the character was not what it should be. The outlet did not specify which scenes were shot or how much footage was captured before the decision was made.
This is not the first time a White Lotus role has been recast after production started. In season three, Charlotte Le Bon replaced Francesca Corney as Chloe. Francesca Corney was flown to Thailand and spent time with the cast before being recast, reportedly because producers wanted Chloe to appear older.
Woody Harrelson was originally cast in season three but reports claimed he pulled out due to a pay dispute. However, Woody Harrelson later clarified he withdrew because filming clashed with a pre-planned family holiday. Sam Rockwell replaced Harrelson in season three.
Other stars confirmed for season four include Kumail Nanjiani, Vincent Cassel, Max Greenfield, Heather Graham, and Sandra Bernhard. Mike White teased that season four will center on questions about fame and be set during the Cannes Film Festival.
The exact reasons why Bonham Carter's character did not align remain unclear. It is also unknown who will be cast to replace her, and whether any other cast changes will occur before production ends. The specific themes related to fame in season four have not been detailed further.