Woody Harrelson turned down one of the most talked-about roles in The White Lotus season 3 – because of his own real-life vacation
By Woody Harrelson was almost featured in The White Lotus season 3, but withdrew due to scheduling conflicts. It appears, however, that the scheduling overlap was with his personal vacation plans.
The True Detective and Hunger Games prominent star was initially considered for the role of Rick Hatchett, a character ultimately portrayed by Walton Goggins. Rick embarks on a trip to the White Lotus with his younger girlfriend Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood), but harbors a troubling secret that led to his journey to Thailand. Harrelson later accepted a different role: Frank, Rick’s friend who resides in Thailand, which eventually went to Sam Rockwell.
“I was ready to participate in White Lotus and was really looking forward to it. Unfortunately, their shooting timetable changed, conflicting with a previously scheduled family vacation, making for a very difficult choice,” Harrelson shared with The Hollywood Reporter, as part of the publication’s oral history of the series. “But maybe everything happens for a reason, because I couldn’t have performed as well as Sam, who is doing an incredible job.”
Rockwell’s debut on the show in episode 5, during Rick’s quest for advice in Bangkok, generated significant excitement online following his character Frank’s monologue about intimacy, sobriety, and life in Thailand – and Goggins’ amused reactions were also well-received by the audience.
All episodes of The White Lotus season 3 are now available to stream on Max.