Toni Collette‘s new Netflix show, Wayward, isn’t even out yet but she already has her sights set on her next dream project: The White Lotus.
In the latest Us Weekly cover story, Collette, 52, teased what show she wanted to star in next, exclusively revealing, “I want to see me on White Lotus.”
Collette specifically cited creator Mike White as the instigator for her bucket list wish.
“I also find Mike White to be endlessly interesting — with films like Chuck & Buck from years ago — he was already blowing my mind,” she gushed. “He just has his own perspective.”
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Collette continued: “I just really appreciate people who have the guts to be themselves and do what they want. He does that.”
The HBO series, which debuted in 2021, focuses on the guests and employees at fictional White Lotus resorts (in various locations) as they experience personal ups and downs while on vacation. The anthology series is also known for a mysterious death — or two — that is eventually revealed at the end of each season.
Season 1 started out in Hawaii with an ensemble cast of Murray Bartlett, Connie Britton, Jennifer Coolidge, Alexandra Daddario, Fred Hechinger, Jake Lacy, Brittany O’Grady, Natasha Rothwell, Sydney Sweeney, Steve Zahn and Molly Shannon.
After becoming an overnight hit, The White Lotus took to Sicily for season 2 with appearances from F. Murray Abraham, Coolidge, Adam DiMarco, Meghann Fahy, Beatrice Grannò, Tom Hollander, Sabrina Impacciatore, Michael Imperioli, Theo James, Aubrey Plaza, Haley Lu Richardson, Will Sharpe, Simona Tabasco and Leo Woodall.
Season 3 pivoted to Thailand and included cast members Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jason Isaacs, Lalisa Manobal, Michelle Monaghan, Sam Nivola, Lek Patravadi, Parker Posey, Natasha Rothwell, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Tayme Thapthimthong and Aimee Lou Wood.
According to reports, the fourth installment is heading to France — just in time for Collette to throw her hat in the ring. She’s looking ahead after wrapping up Netflix’s Wayward, which is set in a pleasant yet sinister town that will explore the dark side of the troubled teen industry.
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“I really did not know much at all. I was a bit of a novice, and then [creator and star] Mae [Martin] sent a plethora of information and documentaries and podcasts. It was a lot to take in,” Collette told Us. “It’s frightening and infuriating, [but] I think the problem with the world is that we don’t encourage individuality and the freedom to be one’s authentic self. Even talking about mental health in the past has been taboo or hidden away or a real problem, and it’s just essential to be able to talk about these things as human beings.”
Collette learned a lot from Wayward — and she hopes the audience will too.
“[Teenagers] are in these incredible moments in their lives where their bodies are changing, their thoughts are changing,” she added. “Their worlds are opening up, and then there’s this big thumb that just comes and squishes them and demands they be a certain way. And I find the two young girls, the lead characters [Sydney Topliffe as Abbie and Alyvia Alyn Lind as Leila], so exciting.”
She continued: “I wish I was their age to play one of those parts. They’re so gutsy. They’re so themselves, their friendship is so tight and loving and supportive, and then they are just put in this hot-water situation of judgment where it’s meant to be helpful, and they’re seeing through it. But also some of it feels good and it’s confusing.”
Wayward premieres Thursday, September 25, on Netflix.
