‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 Has Jake Lacy Wanting to Return to the Series: “I love it. I’d love to come back.”

‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 Has Jake Lacy Wanting to Return to the Series: “I love it. I’d love to come back.”


Dear writer/director/producer/actor/The survivor star Mike White, I’m here on behalf of Jake Lacy, the man who played “righteous kid” Shane Patton in the White Lotus Season 1.

Since your Emmy-winning series premiered in July 2021, the critically-acclaimed Season 2, with a third season — set in Thailand — in the works. The many accolades, the certified rating of Fresh Rotten Tomatoes, and the star-studded cast prove that you are killing it on your own, without any advice from me. But if you ever find yourself in need of another call like Jennifer Coolidge’s (RIP) Tanya McQuoid, please consider calling Mr. Lacy for many reasons – one of which is that he is about to return.

“I like it. I would love to come back,” Lacy told Decider in a conversation at the Television Critics Association’s 2024 Winter Tour. Lacy was in attendance to promote her upcoming mini-series Apples Don’t Fall on Peacock, but following a panel with host Melanie Marnich and stars Annette Bening and Alison Brie, she took a moment to update Decider on hers. White lotus FORM.

“It would be like if you went to a bigger camp and then they said, ‘We’ll keep the camp open, but you can’t go anymore.’ And you’re like, ‘WHAT?’ Someone else is sleeping in my bunk?!’ And they’re like, ‘Yeah, and they’re enjoying their lives,’” Lacy explained.

When Decider spoke to the 39-year-old actor about Zoom in November 2022, Lacy admitted he hadn’t watched it. White Lotus Season 2 still, but he had a good excuse. “It was supposed to come out and I said to my wife, ‘I’m going to watch it on the plane,’ and she’s like, ‘Don’t watch it! We’re going to watch it together!’ And I was like, ‘Okay, okay, okay,'” she explained. “Then I got home and she was like, ‘Maybe we should let a couple build because once we see one we want to see more,’ and I said, ‘How long am I going to wait to watch this? !’”

More than a year later, Lacy still hasn’t landed an HBO drama, and as punishment, Season 2’s big death was ruined for her. “I know our dear friend Jen Coolidge is coming down,” Lacy laughed. “I know he’s probably not coming back for Season 3.”

Photo: Mario Perez/HBO

When Decider suggested that Coolidge could return if White decided Tanya had twins, Lacy suggested, “We could do a prequel, you know?” (Creator has Said prequel it is likely, so there’s hope that the aging Shane might return to the series!)

“I don’t have any bad intentions going into season two, or season three, which I’m excited about,” Lacy explained. “But there is something in me that is jealous. I want to go back. I want to be there. I loved doing it.”

Lacy’s White lotus the character of Shane, a sly, polo-clad man who allowed a small hotel to mess with his honeymoon, gave the actor another opportunity to challenge himself on screen and break away from his Nice Guy roots. For that, and for Mike White, Lacy is forever grateful.

“I’ll do anything for Mike,” Lacy told Decider in our 2022 Zoom call. “Mike could just say, ‘Can you get my groceries? Instacart will be here.’ And I’d be like, ‘I’m over it man. I love you. I get it. For sure.'”

“I’m going to be indebted to a number of people in this business, but definitely Mike White and the team of actors who put us all together. Because I had done other projects along the way where I wasn’t like, kind of the basic, cool guy. But those projects never hit, or people didn’t watch for whatever reason,” he continued. “I totally understand why I’m held up — if I’m lucky enough to say that — as a cool dude. But and White lotus, Mike created this character who thinks he’s a good person and a decent kid. It is infuriating. It was such a gift.”

Jake Lacy in
HBO

About White Lotus season 3, Different information that Natasha Rothwell – who played Belinda in Season 1 – will return along with other confirmed stars including Parker Posey, Leslie Bibb, Dom Hetrakul, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Tayme Thapthimthong, Lalisa Manobal, and Carrie Coon.

Although White Lotus Season 2 star Meghann Fahy said her character Daphne will not appear in Season 3, hinting at a possible return in the future, which could include Lacy.

In an interview with Deadline earlier this year, Fahy shared White’s idea for an episode featuring Daphne, her husband Cameron Sullivan (Theo James), and the Pattons, played by Lacy and Alexandra Daddario. “He once said he’d like to do an episode with Theo, me and the couple from season one – Alex and Jake,” he revealed. “Four of us in a boat. Only one episode of that.”

Although Lacy may not be lucky enough to return for Season 3, we still have hope that Shane will live comfortably in another White Lotus retreat one day.

Mike White, sir, if you’re still with us, please consider fulfilling Jake Lacy’s dream.