LOS ANGELES, April 29 -- US actress Laura Dern has joined the cast of The White Lotus, HBO announced yesterday, days after Helena Bonham Carter left the show.

The British star's departure, which came shortly after the new season started filming on the French Riviera, sparked a frenzy of internet speculation over a glitzy series that has become as well known for its behind-the-scenes dramas as for its award-winning on-camera action.

Bosses at HBO said writer Mike White was having a rethink, with the role being rewritten and recast.

"It had become apparent that the character which Mike White created for Helena Bonham Carter did not align once on set," a statement said.

There were no immediate details on what kind of character Dern,...