Laura Dern wowed in a stunning feather gown as she filmed season four of White Lotus, after being drafted in to replace Helena Bonham Carter. The 59-year-old actress looked incredible as she walked down the red carpet for upcoming scenes on the popular black comedy earlier this month.
Season Four Set at Cannes Film Festival
The upcoming storyline for the fourth season will be centered around the Cannes Film Festival. Laura looked amazing as she descended the steps alongside her co-star Marissa Long, 26, who opted for a sparkly pink halterneck dress. The Jurassic Park actress styled her hair into loose waves, wore dangling diamond earrings, and chose a pair of black flip-flops for comfort.
In another sneak peek, Laura linked arms with actor Chris Messina, 51. Also dressed to the nines were Ari Graynor, 43, and Charlie Hall, 28, as part of the filming. The cast pulled out all the stops to replicate the annual real-life event, which wrapped on Saturday 23 May. Other cast members recreated the festival as photographers competed for the perfect shot, while event coordinators worked behind the scenes.
Cannes Film Festival Details
The Cannes Film Festival was held at the Palais des Festivals et des Congres between Tuesday 12 May and Saturday 23 May 2026. Other stars set to appear in season four include Heather Graham, Sandra Bernhard, Vincent Cassel, Steve Coogan, Rosie Perez, Ben Kingsley, 82, Max Minghella, 40, and Pekka Strang, 48.
Helena Bonham Carter's Departure
In April, it was revealed that Helena Bonham Carter had left the shoot just days after production began in the South of France. HBO released a statement announcing her departure over creative concerns involving her role. 'With filming just underway 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 network revealed to TMZ. 'The role has subsequently been rethought, is being rewritten and will be recast in the coming weeks.' Representatives for Carter declined to comment at the time.
Laura Dern Replaces Bonham Carter
Days later, Laura Dern was announced as her replacement. Variety reported that she is not taking over the exact role but will play a new character. Laura has a longstanding working relationship with showrunner Mike White, having starred in his directorial debut, Year of the Dog (2007), and later collaborated on the HBO comedy-drama series Enlightened for two seasons from 2011 to 2013.
About the Show
Created by Mike White, The White Lotus revolves around the exploits of guests and staff at different locations of the titular hotel chain each season. Jennifer Coolidge's character Tanya McQuoid, a daffy, rich older lady, led the first two seasons while the rest of the cast changed. The third season went viral for an incest sex scene between brothers played by Patrick Schwarzenegger and Sam Nivola, as well as rumours of a feud between co-stars Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood.
European Talent and Filming Locations
European talent has been enlisted for authenticity, including Corentin Fila, Laura Smet, and Nadia Tereszkiewicz from France, Frida Gustavsson from Sweden, and Tobias Santelmann from Norway. It has emerged that the real-life Airelles Chateau de la Messardiere in Saint-Tropez will serve as a filming location for the fictional White Lotus du Cap, while the Hotel Martinez will double as both the White Lotus du Cap and the White Lotus Cannes. The name White Lotus du Cap is a playful nod to the world-famous Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, a hotspot during the Cannes Film Festival. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton notoriously carried on a torrid love affair there while married to other people, and later returned for their own honeymoon.
