Cannes Will Be Full of White Lotus Gossip

After a disappointing reality TV turn, Mike White is burying himself in prestige. We already know that season four of The White Lotus is taking place in France, but now, courtesy of Variety, we know that it will revolve around a culture clash between American and French cinema. To keep things as expensive as possible, HBO is letting White film during Cannes International Film Festival, and the story will follow two competing movie teams who arrive at the festival with different films in competition. The two groups will be at different hotels, too: One film team will be on the Croisette while the other is away in the hills. All that amounts to a total $120 million price tag. Does the cinema focus tease the return of Michelle Monaghan’s fabulous actress character from season three? We can only hope.

One person who will not be appearing is Helena Bonham Carter, who left the show on April 24. She was supposed to play a fallen star who is aiming for a comeback, but exited over “creative differences” after White wanted a more “boisterous performance,” per Variety. White’s Enlightened collaborator Laura Dern has since replaced her and will take on a similar part that is being written on-set, since filming has already begun. Apparently, one character will have a central scene where they fight with the hotel because they want room service delivered after hours, and it’s hard not to hope that’s Dern. She will not not be fed!