Jake Lacy Is 'Just Jealous' of New Cast of The White Lotus: 'Time of Your Life' (Exclusive)

Jake Lacy would love nothing more than to return to The White Lotus.

The actor, who starred as arrogant real estate agent Shane on the first season of Mike White's hit series, tells PEOPLE that he's "just jealous" of all the actors who get to experience the show for the first time as season 3 production is underway.

"Just pure, pure, unadulterated jealousy to be like, 'You're going to have the time of your life. It's going to be the coolest gig you've ever had,'" Lacy, 39, says on the red carpet at the Gotham TV Awards at Cipriani Broadway in New York City on June 4. "And not with animosity — but just going, like, oh, I loved it. Loved every bit of it."

Reflecting on his time on season 1 of the HBO series, which aired in 2021, Lacy says it was "the best" experience as he praises the mind behind the show.

"Mike [White] is the best," the Apples Never Fall star gushes. "Mike's mind and taste and direction and how he sees the making of things is so unique and [it's] exciting to be a part of that."

"I'm thrilled for them," he adds of the season 3 cast, which includes Walton Goggins, Leslie Bibb, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey and more. "And also I'm like, 'Oh, take me back.'"

Lacy has some ideas about a way to potentially revisit his fan-favorite character, who was spending his honeymoon at The White Lotus resort in Hawaii with his wife Rachel (Alexandra Daddario).

"Maybe Shane's broke," Lacy suggests. "I've said, I just want him in the background. I just want one shot where he's walking in an airport or drunk by a pool or hitting on a cocktail waitress. Just that. Enough to go, 'This dude is still out in the world.'"

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Shane was the first of what's become a slew of often smug, slightly pompous characters that Lacy has portrayed, and he says it's fun to play with the dynamics of a complicated character.

"I got to take this character that — everyone's impression of him outside of his own head is like, 'What a douchebag.' But inside his head, Mike was like, 'This guy just wants to have a nice time,'" he says of his White Lotus character.

"I like this blend of like, 'Do I like this guy? Is it okay that I agree with his point of view or his wants or his needs, but not his behavior? Or maybe I relate to it?' I like that stuff. I like the uncomfortable," he continues. "It's fun to go, 'We're all a mess, and some of us are doing a better job than others at being a part of society, but we're all kind of messy.'"

Season 3 of the critically acclaimed series will see one face from season 1 return, though it's not Lacy — as far as we know.

Natasha Rothwell, who played the resort's spa manager, Belinda, will reprise her character in the new installment, which she told PEOPLE is "going to give you a run for your money."

"It's an excellent season and people are going to be very pleased," she said, revealing that she'd "just finished the season 3 scripts" in mid-December.

Along with Rothwell, the cast also includes Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sam Nivola, Sarah Catherine Hook, Aimee Lou Wood, Tayme Thapthimthong and Dom Hetrakul.

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Seasons 1 and 2 of The White Lotus are now streaming on Max.