‘White Lotus’ Sam Nivola Says Helena Bonham Carter’s Sudden Exit Isn’t Shocking

“White Lotus” fans were shocked when Helena Bonham Carter has bounced back from the upcoming season, just a week into production…but one OG star says it’s Hollywood, baby.

We caught up Sam Nivola …who starred in all of last season…and even though he says he has no idea what happened with the creator Mike White to make Helena want to go out – creative impulses happen all the time – but you either succeed or calm down.

As you can see for yourself… Sam tells TMZ this won’t impact the show’s meteoric trajectory for several reasons.

TMZ reported last month…HBC I left the HBO staplewhich is currently filming in Venice…but the exact details about the bridge she and Mike weren’t able to cross together aren’t clear — since her crew and HBO have both remained tight-lipped on the subject.

And it doesn’t really matter now, at least as far as Mike is concerned, because it only took him a few days to start casting. Laura Dern in a new role instead of the character he had created for Helena.

As for Sam… he tells us he’s excited for the new “WL” season… but he’s also busy with his own stuff, like the series “Phony,” which he’s currently filming for Hulu.

Bottom line… Sam says some people enjoy their stay at the “White Lotus” more than others.