White Lotus Season 3 Casting Affected by Incest Storyline

The third season of 'The White Lotus' has become one of HBO's most controversial installments, primarily due to its shocking incestuous storyline involving brothers Saxon and Lochlan Ratliff, played by Patrick Schwarzenegger and Sam Nivola. Casting director Meredith Tucker revealed that some actors declined to audition because they were uncomfortable with the explicit material, especially given the characters' ages. Despite initial apprehensions, both Schwarzenegger and Nivola accepted their roles after confirming they were comfortable with the sexual content described in their contracts. Producer David Bernad expressed relief that the two actors did not back out after reading the script, as their participation was crucial to the show's success. Creator Mike White explained that the storyline aims to explore deeper themes of connection rather than focusing solely on the taboo nature of incest. The season is set to conclude with a record-breaking 90-minute finale, heightening anticipation among viewers.