Rachel Brosnahan, star of the upcoming Superman film, expressed her admiration for Mike White, known for creating The White Lotus and competing on Survivor, during an appearance on Live with Kelly and Mark. Brosnahan shared her enthusiasm for the reality competition show Survivor, explaining how it has captivated her fandom over the years and how she respects White as both a player and a creative mind.
From Early Survivor Fandom to Admiring Mike White’s Strategy
Brosnahan revealed she first watched Survivor while spending time in the United Kingdom, where the show aired early on. After a long break, she returned to binge-watch numerous seasons, finding the show compelling. Kelly Ripa noted that Brosnahan had observed Mike White’s evolution on the series long before his rise to acclaim through The White Lotus.
“I watched the first season. I’m half-British, and I spent a lot of time growing up in the U.K., and for some reason we were watching Survivor there,”
Brosnahan recounted.
“And then put it down for a lot of years. And then came back, picked it up. I forget when, but just binge watched tons of seasons. It’s so good, if you haven’t seen it.”
—Rachel Brosnahan
Ripa reflected on Brosnahan’s longtime admiration:
“saw the evolution of Mike White before the rest of us.”
Brosnahan responded,
“Mike White has been a superstar in my heart long before The White Lotus.”
Describing Mike White as a “Chaos Goblin” on Survivor
Discussing the connection between White’s Survivor gameplay and his work on The White Lotus, Brosnahan described him with vivid enthusiasm. When asked if his behavior on Survivor influenced his creative output, she labeled him as a uniquely entertaining player.
“Mike White is a chaos goblin and one of the most fun players to watch. I can’t wait for him to come back.”
—Rachel Brosnahan
White is set to return for Survivor’s 50th season in 2026, and Brosnahan shared some limited insights about what happens after contestants are voted off, noting how the show’s dynamics possibly inspire White’s creations due to the diverse personalities he encounters.
“I don’t know a ton about what happens when people get voted off and the cameras stop rolling, but I heard that they stay on the island,”
she said.
“I can feel some of the inspiration… with the different personalities that he encounters.”
—Rachel Brosnahan
Kelly Ripa added,
“He’s a real observer of people and what they do.”
Brosnahan hinted at the drawn influences in White’s work:
“I hesitate to know how close some of those characters are to people that he met on Survivor.”
Mark Consuelos chimed in, “We’ve met those people, yeah.”
Brosnahan’s Honest Thoughts on Competing in Survivor
When the conversation turned to whether Brosnahan herself could succeed on Survivor, she showed a candid side about her personality traits clashing with the show‘s challenges. Despite the common perception that actors are skilled at deception, she acknowledged her impulsive honesty might hinder her gameplay.
“I would like to think I’d do well on Survivor, but I don’t think so. I’m a bad liar,”
Brosnahan admitted.
“I know people think that actors are liars, but our whole job is actually to tell the truth. Or to try to tell the truth. And I feel like I would just lose track of the manipulation and the lies and just give myself up so quickly.”
—Rachel Brosnahan
Kelly Ripa highlighted the strategic ruthlessness needed to survive:
“You have to be good and comfortable with saying terrible, backstabby, double-crossy things.”
Brosnahan agreed, adding,
“Even though it’s just a game, I feel like my impulse is toward directness and honesty.”
Mark Consuelos immediately remarked, “Yeah, that doesn’t work there.”
Brosnahan concluded with a wry acceptance,
“Wouldn’t work very well. I’d be gone first.”
Looking Ahead to Brosnahan’s Role in James Gunn’s Superman
While reflecting on her Survivor insights, Brosnahan is simultaneously preparing for her leading role as Lois Lane in James Gunn’s new Superman movie alongside David Corenswet’s Man of Steel. The actress’s thoughts about truthfulness and human behavior, shaped by her admiration for Mike White and Survivor’s complex social dynamics, offer an intriguing angle on her approach to this iconic character.
Brosnahan’s connection to Mike White’s unique blend of chaos and observation resonates as she steps into a film weighing the balance between heroism and complexity, while Survivor continues to spotlight real-world strategy and personality clashes on-screen. Fans of both the upcoming Superman film and Survivor can anticipate seeing these intertwined influences shaping the entertainment landscape in the coming years.
