Screen Time: ‘White Lotus’ Season 4, ‘Knives Out 4,’ The Dennis Rodman Movie, & More

Welcome to B.H.’s Screen Time, where every week, we’ll give you the cliff notes on what’s happening in the entertainment industry. From various stages of development chatter and our take on the newest releases, to a fun throwback worth revisiting, think of it as an insider’s digest meets movie club.

Coming Soon

After confirmation that HBO’s The White Lotus season 4 will be taking place in France – with production beginning in early 2026 – reports now indicate the first guest to book their fictional stay will be none other than Helena Bonham Carter.

“It is unknown where things stand in the dealmaking process, but sources say exclusive conversations are underway between both parties,” explains Justin Kroll & Nellie Andreeva of Deadline.

Should this be made official, Helena Bonham Carter will be the second major Harry Potter franchise alum come aboard the Mike White-created black comedy after her former co-star and Brit, Jason Isaacs, who prominently featured in the Thailand-set season 3.

While HBO has yet to confirm a specific Four Seasons hotel/hotels as a stand-in for its titular resort, we have a working shortlist of where it may end up for Le Lotus Blanc season 4.

The famed Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, perched at the tip of the Cap-Ferrat peninsula on the French Riviera, for example, is a solid frontrunner, given its strong Hollywood ties/proximity to Cannes.

Creator Mike White was spotted at Nice’s historic Hotel Negresco a few years ago, which is located by the sea and shares Belle Époque-style architecture with the Cap-Ferrat.

The two other Four Seasons hotels in France are the French Alps’ Megève and Hotel George V in the heart of Paris (what we believe to be the odds-on favourite).

The White Lotus season 4 release date: late 2026/early 2027 (via HBO).

Much to our delight, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery has hit Netflix streaming queues – a remarkable return to form as well, might we add – with questions now being raised surrounding the possibility of a fourth film.

“I have some basic, elemental, conceptual ideas. Like, ‘OK, it’d be interesting if it were this kind of thing’ kernels,” director Rian Johnson recently told Entertainment Weekly.

“I don’t have actual concrete ideas. I don’t have a theme yet, I don’t have a location. It’s really pretty vague, and I feel like it’s good to kinda keep it vague until I’m ready to actually sit down and write it.”

Johnson added: “Part of making these movies, for me, is reacting to the present moment – not necessarily with current events or politics or culture specifically, but in terms of what we’re all feeling in the world at that moment. The vibe check of the United States and the moment that we’re in.”

“I like that these movies are not timeless, per se, and that they all have one foot in something that is common to all of us in our present moment. So, yeah, I don’t know. I have a vague notion, but trying to keep it vague until it’s time to actually do it.”

Wake Up Dead Man – which features a star-studded ensemble led by Daniel Craig, Josh Brolin, Josh O’Connor, and Glenn Close – involves another baffling death that draws in Craig’s Detective Benoit Blanc, this time set in a quiet church “where faith, secrets and suspicion blur as a close community turns against itself.”

Other notable names include Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church. Stay tuned for potential updates on a fourth whodunnit.

Knives Out 4 release date: TBA.

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Following the 2023 assault conviction of Jonathan Majors, the comedy flick about Dennis Rodman’s bender in Las Vegas – dubbed 48 Hours in Vegas – will now star Atlanta alum LaKeith Stanfield.

Perhaps the most on-brand chapter of Dennis Rodman’s entire mythology, this infamous snapshot of sporting took place in the very middle of the 1998 NBA Finals (Chicago Bulls vs Utah Jazz). One that required The Worm to be retrieved – and chaperoned back to training – by teammate Michael Jordan and coach Phil Jackson.

The forthcoming film will be produced by Phil Lord & Chris Miller, who you will have previously encountered through 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, and Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse.

Rick Famuyiwa (The Mandalorian, Ahsoka) has signed on to direct, in addition to writing the next version of the screenplay originally drafted by Jordan VanDina (The Binge, Cocaine Hippos, What Would Diplo Do?).

“I’m genuinely excited to help create an exhilarating, joyful work that both honours and thoughtfully examines the legacy of Rodman and fellow trailblazers. Those who moved to the beat of their own drum, undeterred by the obstacles placed before them, then and now,” Stanfield said in a statement.

48 Hours in Vegas release date (international): TBA.

Looming Netflix acquisition or not, HBO intends to hit the ground running in 2026 with fresh previews of a full prestige slate ranging from Euphoria season 3, Industry season 4, and Green Lanterns, to expansions of the Game of Thrones universe, an untitled Larry David comedy project, and plenty more.

Check out what’s to come above.

Home Alone (1990) Almost Looked Like A Very Different Movie

A quarter-century since premiering to become a Christmas-time classic, we’ve now learned something new about Chris Columbus’ Home Alone – written and produced by the late John Hughes – thanks to a recent post by Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences archivist Louise Hilton.

Casting notes revealed a shortlist of actors who were almost cast in the iconic roles we’ve come to know and love.

“Can you imagine if Kirstie Alley or Susan Sarandon had played Kate in Home Alone?” Hilton asked in the video above.

“For the older neighbour who saves the day [Marley], they were considering Jimmy Stewart. His agent was interested, and he was available, but they ended up going with Robert Blossom.”

The archivist continued (read the notes): “‘We can go with an older Harry and younger Marv as written, but Tim Curry and Dan Stern make an exciting pair.’ [They were] considering Joe Pesci, and he’s saying that he’s ‘offer only,’ so he wouldn’t audition, and that, ‘We don’t think he’ll do it,’ but of course he does.”

The Sopranos, Matrix, and Bad Boys alum Joe Pantoliano was another name in the mix for Harry, alongside Zack Norman for Marv.

Other notable finalists included Blythe Danner and Joanna Cassidy as alternates for Kate, before it ultimately went to Catherine O’Hara. Candice Bergen was also considered before – like Kirstie Alley – a busy production schedule ruled her out.

Sam Waterston and David Dukes, on the other hand, were in contention to portray the McCallister patriarch, eventually immortalised by John Heard (Danny Aiello seemingly passed).

The only role that didn’t seem to have a backup plan appears to be the singular Macaulay Culkin, who essentially made the family flick what it is today.

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