Wait! Even Peters Was Almost What Character In White Lotus?

Somewhere on an alternate timeline, Evan Peters checked into the White Lotus for season two of the hit show by the same name. In this reality, however, scheduling conflicts got in the way.

According to David Bernad, an executive producer on White Lotus, Peters was all set to star as Ethan, a role that would eventually go to actor Will Sharpe.

“That part was the last part we cast in the season,” Bernad revealed per Deadline at Germany’s Berlinale Series Market film event. “Originally it was supposed to be Evan Peters, but for whatever reason — scheduling or timing — it didn’t work out.”

Bernad has no regrets, though, because they were able to find Sharpe late in the casting process. “We were really trying to figure how to cast that part so it didn’t feel like familiar casting,” Bernad explained. “We were in Rome auditioning Italian actors, and I was jet lagged Googling at 4 a.m. and I came across Will Sharpe in Giri/Haji, which is a brilliant show in the U.K. I’d never seen him before and he was just incredibly talented. I looked at his other work and realized he was kind of a chameleon.”

The producer also hinted at what’s to come in season three of the award-winning series, specifically its setting. Creator Mike White previously teased that the action would be moving again, this time to Asia. “We’ve tried to work in Asia a lot and hopefully season three will be our chance to make something happen there,” Bernad said.

While Bernad didn’t give any clues as to what season three will be about, White previously tipped his hand a bit on the subject. “The first season highlighted money and the second season is sex,” he explained in an HBO featurette. “I think the third season, it would be maybe a satirical, funny look at death, Eastern religion, and spirituality. It feels like it could be a rich tapestry to do another round.”

Perhaps season three would also be a great time to revisit that Evan Peters casting idea?