Laura Dern replaces Helena Bonham Carter in The White Lotus

Steven McIntoshand
Ian Youngs,Culture reporters
News imageGetty Images Laura dern headshot on the left and Helena Bonham Carter headshot on the right both at red carpet events looking glamorousGetty Images
Laura Dern (left), who replaces Bonham Carter, has worked closely with The White Lotus creator Mike White in the past

US actress Laura Dern has joined the cast of the new season of The White Lotus, days after Helena Bonham Carter left the show due to creative differences.

The fourth season of the wealth satire is currently being filmed in the south of France, and will be set during the Cannes Film Festival.

Bonham Carter left last week, with makers HBO saying "it had become apparent" that the character written for her by creator Mike White "did not align once on set".

The network didn't give any details of the apparent disagreement but said her role would be recast, and Oscar winner Dern has now been announced as "checking into season four".

British actress Bonham Carter is known for her roles in Harry Potter, A Room with a View, The Wings of the Dove, The King's Speech and The Crown.

News imageEPA An actress in an elaborate voluminous white dress on the Cannes red carpet facing a bank of photographers in black tie.EPA
The next season of The White Lotus is expected to be set during the Cannes Film Festival

Last week, an HBO spokesperson said: "With filming just under way on season four 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.

"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 [Bonham Carter], but remain ardent fans and very much hope to work with the legendary actress on another project soon."

The White Lotus is one of the most popular dramas of recent years, having won numerous Emmy Awards, with each season set in an upmarket hotel in a different resort around the world.

After sojourns in Hawaii, Italy and Thailand, the fourth season will take place on the French Riviera against the backdrop of the glamour, deals and parties of Cannes.

Shooting is expected to continue during this year's real film festival, which will take place from 13 to 24 May.

News imageGetty Images Laura Dern and Mike White in formal dress, smiling widely together and both holding the Golden Globe statuette between themGetty Images
Dern and Mike White celebrated her Golden Globe win for Enlightened in 2012

Dern, who won an Oscar in 2020 for Marriage Story, is also known for films such as Blue Velvet, Jurassic Park and Wild, and TV shows including Big Little Lies and Twin Peaks: The Return.

She has worked closely with White in the past - first on 2007 film Year of the Dog, then co-creating TV comedy-drama Enlightened with him.

That show ran from 2011 to 2013 and earned her a Golden Globe for best actress in a TV comedy.

In the return of The White Lotus, she will join fellow cast members including Steve Coogan, Kumail Nanjiani, Sandra Bernhard, Heather Graham and Vincent Cassel.