‘The White Lotus’ drafts Laura Dern after Bonham Carter split

Actor Laura Dern arrives at the AFI Awards at the Four Seasons in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.

U.S. actress Laura Dern has joined the cast of “The White Lotus,” HBO announced Tuesday, days after Helena Bonham Carter left the show.

The British star’s departure, which came shortly after the new season started filming on the French Riviera, sparked a frenzy of internet speculation over a glitzy series that has become as well known for its behind-the-scenes dramas as for its award-winning on-camera action.

Bosses at HBO said writer Mike White was having a rethink, with the role being rewritten and recast.

“It had become apparent that the character which Mike White created for Helena Bonham Carter did not align once on set,” a statement said.

There were no immediate details on what kind of character Dern, 59, will play in the show, which typically involves murders, class tensions and sumptuous holiday spots.

The Emmy-winning series is currently filming primarily in Cannes and St. Tropez, as well as Monaco. It will also include some scenes in Paris.

The fourth season takes place against the backdrop of the Cannes Film Festival.

Dern joins an all-star cast that includes British comedian Steve Coogan, as well as France’s Vincent Cassel (“Black Swan,” “Ocean’s Twelve”) and Heather Graham (“Boogie Nights” and “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.”)

Singer AJ Michalka, and comedian Kumail Nanjiani also feature.

Dern and White have previously worked together on HBO’s “Enlightened” and the comedy-drama “Year of the Dog.”

Previous seasons of “The White Lotus” were filmed in Hawaii, Italy and Thailand, and featured stars such as Jennifer Coolidge, Sydney Sweeney, Aubrey Plaza, and Walton Goggins.