Fans have been loving BLACKPINK’s Lisa in The White Lotus Season 3, all thanks to her role as Mook in the series. But guess what? Director Mike White originally didn’t want her on the show. Even after her impressive audition, he wasn’t sold on the BLACKPINK rapper for the role.
Mike White on casting #Lisa in #TheWhiteLotus:
"I did not know who Lisa or #Blackpink was. All I knew was that there was a Blackpink girl in #TheIdol and I was like, ‘We’re not doing that.’ Then I found out that there might be security issues and I was just like, “No.” [But]… pic.twitter.com/UdnlHWOPvK
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) April 2, 2025
During a chat with The Hollywood Reporter, Mike confessed he initially thought, “We’re not doing that,” after learning BLACKPINK’s Jennie had appeared in The Idol. Then, producer David Bernad recalled inviting Lisa to Phuket for auditions, where she impressed everyone with her humility and passion. In the end, her dedication was impossible to ignore, sealing the deal.
“Lisa was so humble, and she’d worked so hard on her performance. This was someone fighting for this part,” he revealed.
Mike White, the writer, director and producer of The White Lotus, talked about #LISA, her casting and willingness to work with her again in the future.
"I know this sounds crazy, but I did not know who Lisa was. […] I did not know Blackpink. […] But then she came in and… pic.twitter.com/GwFLMDNKbF
— LISANATIONS (@LISANATIONS_) February 24, 2025
For her part, Lisa went all in: she took acting lessons, rehearsed, and even brought her mom for moral support. Mike ultimately cast her to honor Thailand, comparing her national treasure status to a combination of a Thai version of Taylor Swift and Princess Diana. Lisa didn’t just land a role—she proved that her star power shines far beyond the music stage.
