Helena Bonham Carter abruptly leaves The White Lotus

Production has just begun in France, but the departure of the British actress has already led to a major reorganization. The character Mike White envisioned for Helena Bonham Carter apparently didn't work out once filming started. The role will therefore be rethought, rewritten, and then given to a new actress in the coming weeks. The series' team says they are saddened not to be able to work with the actress, while affirming their admiration for her career and their hope to collaborate with her on another project. "Mike White and Helena Bonham Carter just don't work out." A very diplomatic statement, suggesting that the hoped-for chemistry simply didn't happen on set. Since the worldwide success of The White Lotus, its creator, Mike White, seems to be maintaining increasingly tight control over his creation, even going so far as to revise his choices mid-production. This fourth season will feature a particularly large cast, including Alexander Ludwig, AJ Michalka, Steve Coogan, Caleb Jonte Edwards, Marissa Long, Chris Messina, Sandra Bernhard, Ari Graynor, Dylan Ennis, Vincent Cassel, Corentin Fila, Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Chloe Bennet, Max Greenfield, Charlie Hall, Kumail Nanjiani, Jarrad Paul, Heather Graham, Frida Gustavsson, Rosie Perez, Tobias Santelmann, Ben Schnetzer, and French actress Laura Smet. The new season is expected to take place during the Cannes Film Festival.