Photo credit: www.tvinsider.com

Woody Harrelson Discusses Departure from The White Lotus Season 3

The White Lotus fans are witnessing the performances of Walton Goggins and Sam Rockwell in roles initially intended for Woody Harrelson, who is now shedding light on his decision to withdraw from the series.

This revelation about Harrelson’s involvement surfaced in a recent article from Hollywood Reporter, wherein producers discussed the pay structure for the ensemble cast. According to the report, Harrelson was slated to portray Rick Hatchett, a role ultimately given to Goggins. He approached Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav to negotiate his salary, only to learn that adjustments were not feasible.

Hollywood Reporter also mentioned that while Harrelson initially committed to the project, he later stepped away due to scheduling conflicts. Speculation arose that financial issues influenced his decision, as noted by The Daily Beast, which sought to clarify the situation directly with the actor.

In an interview, Harrelson expressed his enthusiasm for the role: “I was set to do White Lotus and very excited. Unfortunately, their production schedule shifted, and it conflicted with a pre-planned family vacation, forcing me to make an extremely hard decision.”

Reportedly, by the time he withdrew, Harrelson was slated to play Frank, a character now interpreted by Rockwell. Harrelson remarked, “Things must be meant to be though, because I couldn’t have done as fantastic a job as Sam, who is killing it,” acknowledging the talent of his replacement.

In response to the speculation regarding financial motivations, Harrelson’s representatives reaffirmed that monetary issues were not a factor in his decision. They stated, “He was set to do the show, and they moved the date. Because they moved the date, he was no longer available, so they recast. That part was the Sam part.”

Harrelson continues to maintain a busy schedule, with appearances in two films this year, The Electric State and Last Breath. Moreover, he is collaborating with his True Detective co-star Matthew McConaughey on an upcoming comedy series for Apple TV+ titled Brother From Another Mother. Additionally, he will feature in the forthcoming film Ella McCay and the sequel to Now You See Me, called Now You See Me: Now You Don’t.

The White Lotus, Season 3 Finale, Sunday, April 6, 9/8c, HBO & Max

Source
www.tvinsider.com