Woody Harrelson was initially considered for a role in The White Lotus Season 3, filmed in Koh Samui, Thailand, but ultimately turned it down—despite reports suggesting it had to do with a salary issue, which he later clarified was not the case.
Harrelson was reportedly in the running for the roles of either Rick (played by Walton Goggins) or Frank (played by Sam Rockwell). Frank, a troubled former monk spiraling into self-destruction, became a pivotal character in the season’s intense, emotionally charged finale. However, when the show’s shooting schedule changed, Harrelson found that it clashed with a long-planned family holiday. So, despite his excitement about the project, he chose to prioritize his personal commitments over the role.
Harrelson, in an interview with The Daily Beast, made it clear that money wasn’t a factor in his decision. He admitted he was “set to do The White Lotus and very excited” but ultimately respected the family vacation he had scheduled long before the production timeline shifted. He even gave a nod to Sam Rockwell, admitting that the actor was perfect for the role, saying, “I couldn’t have done as fantastic a job as Sam, who is killing it.”
Season 3 of The White Lotus, set against the lush backdrop of Koh Samui, Thailand, follows a group of affluent guests and their personal dramas. Goggins’s character, Rick, travels to the resort with a mission to track down the man responsible for his father’s death, enlisting Frank’s help in a confrontational plotline that culminates in one of the series’ most shocking finales.
The season features a stellar cast, including Jason Isaacs, Aimee Lou Wood, Michelle Monaghan, Carrie Coon, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Blackpink’s Lisa, and wraps up with a dramatic 90-minute finale packed with violence and shocking twists—the longest finale in the series so far.
The White Lotus Season 3 is now available on HBO Max.
