He's back! Returning 'White Lotus' character makes surprise appearance in Season 3
You're not seeing things. Nefarious Greg Hunt is back on "The White Lotus" for Season 3.
The lurking villain from Season 1 (Hawaii) and Season 2 (Italy), Greg (Jon Gries), makes a gasp-inducing appearance in Sunday's Season 3 premiere of "White Lotus" (now streaming on Max). The previously unannounced reveal on the critically acclaimed series makes Gries, 67, the only actor to appear in all three seasons.
In the new season, Americans on vacation at the Lotus wellness retreat in Thailand are either hiding from someone or looking for someone. Greg, who's later revealed to be using an assumed name, is undoubtedly under the "hiding" category after meeting multi-millionaire heiress Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge) in Hawaii, marrying her and then setting a plan in motion to have his new wife killed in Season 2 (Tanya foiled the assassin's plot on a yacht, but still died tragically at sea).
Here's what to know about Greg's reappearance:
Where does Greg appear in Season 3 of 'White Lotus'?
It's hard at first to notice the bald diner at The White Lotus resort in Sunday's premiere. Chloe, a former model played by former model and filmmaker Charlotte Le Bon points out her older boyfriend, who is dining alone, without giving his name. But you can't miss those dead eyes and scowl from past seasons.
Chloe explains the couple has lived on the hill above the luxury Thai resort for the past year and comes down for meals. Clearly, Greg has come into ill-gotten serious money after the suspicious death of his rich wife. And he still has a dark heart. Chloe tells Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) she's letting him "cool down" after an argument.
Why is Greg's 'White Lotus' appearance so big
The mystery of Greg's return is very much under wraps, even at the end of Episode 1. But "White Lotus" worlds will collide in the season featuring the return of Maui spa manager Belinda (Natasha Rothwell), who checks into the Thai resort for enhanced training. Belinda knew Tanya well: After inheriting $500 million, Tanya showed up in Maui seeking a place to spread her rich mother's ashes and hit the spa.
Tanya even offered to bankroll a wellness spa Belinda planned to open before she met sports fisherman Greg, who began courting her. Belinda's funding fell apart after Tanya agreed to put her money into treatment for Greg, who claimed to have a terminal disease.
What did Greg do to Tanya in Season 2?
Greg and Tanya show up in Season 2, after the surly Greg insisted on a Sicilian trip. Greg is annoyed about signing pre-nuptial agreement and that Tanya has her savvy assistant Portia (Haley Lu Richardson) in tow. Greg eventually leaves on a mysterious business trip to Denver, and Tanya gets close with Quentin (Tom Hollander), who is revealed to be a longtime Greg associate.
In the Season 2 finale, Tanya falls to her death off the side of Quentin's yacht while trying to escape what she believes is a murder-for-hire plot. She leaves a trio of dead bodies (including Quentin's) in her wake. Surely, investigating authorities would still like at least a word with Greg.
There's already a shooting revealed in the Season 3 premiere, with at least one body floating in the water. The guy formerly known as Greg is a suspect, but one of many.
Why fans were shocked to see Greg on 'White Lotus' Season 3
Fans reacted to Greg's unexpected return on social media with a variety of shocked memes.
Jon Gries is forever Uncle Rico in 'Napolean Dynamite'
Gries has played a variety of baddies in his career, including Roger, the abusive father of Benjamin Linus (Michael Emerson) on TV's "Lost." However, the actor is best known for his iconic comic role as Uncle Rico, who is nostalgic for his high school football past in the 2004 cult classic "Napoleon Dynamite."
Patrick Schwarzenegger, who plays party-guy Saxon Ratliff on "White Lotus," says he was prepared for evil when meeting Gries after watching his character's past machinations.
"It's funny, I watched Jon as a 'White Lotus' fan on Season 1 and Season 2, so I had this perception of who he was," says Schwarzenegger. "But working with him, Jon is just the nicest, kindest person. He's a really loving guy to film with and, more importantly, to hang out with."