The White Lotus, the Emmy-winning social satire from author Mike White, officially returns with season 3 and will begin filming in Thailand in February. Like the first two, the new installment will take place in some other exotic location in the luxury hotel. where a new organization of visitors and workers will see their lives collide in unforeseen ways.
With production almost underway, HBO has officially announced the cast and location for the upcoming third season of The White Lotus, with the newest additions to the cast, Patrick Schwarzenegger.
Now, ET explores everything we know about the cast, location and plot, adding White’s latest clues and what many members of the sprawling ensemble have already said about the return.
In January 2024, The White Lotus added five more actors for the upcoming third season, adding Schwarzenegger, Walter Goggins, Sarah Catherine Hook, Sam Nivola, and Aimee Lou Wood. HBO announced in the past that Leslie Bibb, Dom Hetrakul, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey, and Tayme Thapthimthong were all set to sign up for the series, along with cast member announced in the past Natasha Rothwell, who reprises her role as spa manager Belinda Lindsey from the show’s inaugural season in Hawaii.
“I can’t say anything. I literally can’t,” Rothwell told ET in December. “I will say that I’ve read all the scripts and other people are going to enjoy it. It’s bigger than ever. Buckle up. “
Many fans previously wondered whether Jennifer Coolidge would return as Tanya McQuiod, the grief-stricken guest who found solace in Greg Hunt (Jon Gries) in season 1 before the two’s romance started to fall apart in season 2. The 62-year-old actress won her first Primetime Emmy for season 1 and was nominated again for reprisal.
In an interview with Deadline, White said that he couldn’t imagine doing another installment without her. “Jennifer is my friend and everybody loved her in the first season, and I was like, ‘I can’t go to Italy without Jennifer.’ And maybe that’s still the case. Like, maybe you can’t go to Japan without Jennifer, either.”
And Coolidge is open to more. ” Yes, yes. Absolutely,” he replied to ET when asked about his comeback, before adding, “I mean, I don’t know what Mike has in mind. But yes, I would love [to go back]. “
However, based on the season 2 finale, Coolidge’s involvement with the series has come to an end.
Although Rothwell is the only returning star for this season, there are still plenty of other White Lotus alumni who would take advantage of the chance to re-register. White has previously told Deadline, “There’s so many fun actors we’ve worked with so far, so it’s pretty much who’s available. “
Before announcing his retaliatory role, Rothwell said, “I’m going to stay with Mike White until the end of the world. “of Season 2.
Throughout Season 1, several told ET that they were willing to return to stay at the White Lotus.
“I’d do anything with Mike White, like season 3 of White Lotus [or] anything completely different. You know, help him move boxes to a new house. Like, whatever you want. I sure love it and I think it is. “A genius. So if he has anything to do and I get a call, I’ll be there,” Jake Lacy said, confirming that he was “100 percent” if White wanted him to reprise his role as the not-so-easy guest Shane Patton. .
Alexandra Daddario, who played Shane’s wife Rachel, is also down to come back. “If he had a great idea, then of course,” she said. “I would do anything… Just being a small part of the series is amazing.”
As for the other Season 1 stars, Connie Britton, who played mom and entrepreneur Nicole Mossbacher, said, “Hopefully, it could be in season. “
After the finale, Britton’s on-screen daughter, Sydney Sweeney, said there had been conversations with the series about the option of returning, and the Euphoria star revealed that she was open to any direction the author took in the future. “I’m so excited for Mike,” she said. Mike’s writing is very funny and surprising. “
As for the season 2 cast, there are just as many who want to come back — especially now that audiences know who made it out of Sicily alive.
When asked if she could return as Harper Spiller, Aubrey Plaza replied, “I hope so. It depends on whether I’m a fan favorite. I think, you know, it just depends on who other people want. “]. ” F. Murray Abraham, who plays the aging patriarch Bert Di Grasso, has said he needs to return for Season 3, as well as Seasons 4 through 6, if there are that many. “But I’m glad I did this one,” he said.
One guest that enthusiasts know is alive and well is Daphne Babcock (Meghann Fahy), who found herself vacationing with Harper and her two husbands at the Sicilian estate before finding a mysterious frame in the water. “Oh my God, of course,” Fahy said. I mean, I’d pass out in season three. It’s an incredible setting. Just watching everyone paint. The cast is amazing and watching Mike paint is great. I mean, I absolutely would. Being there, of course.
Sadly, one other person who cannot return is Murray Bartlett as season 1’s hotel manager Armand. That is, unless “we, like, go back in time or something,” he offered. And that seems like an unlikely turn for the series.
Season 3 of White Lotus will take place in Thailand and will be filmed in and around Koh Samui, Phuket, and Bangkok. HBO announced in January 2024 that it would collaborate directly with the Tourism Authority of Thailand for the filming and production of the show.
“We revere having Amazing Thailand as the filming location for the highly anticipated upcoming season of The White Lotus,” said Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. “The kingdom’s exotic natural beauty, rich ancient sites and varied landscapes are the best setting to share our engaging culture, our excellent cuisine, our leading wellness and luxury offerings and, above all, our Thai people and hospitality. Thailand has long been considered one of the world’s favorite filming locations. In fact, the White Lotus commission will increase the kingdom’s prestige as a popular filming destination and model of experiential tourism, and will further inspire visitors to Amazing Thailand. “
The destination fits perfectly with White’s plans for the new installment. “The first season we focused on money, and then the second season focuses on sex and I think the third season could be kind of a satirical and funny look at death in ‘Eastern Faith and Spirituality,'” he said in a Season 2 making-of video. “I feel like it can just be a tapestry for some other excursion to White Lotus. “
Additionally, the Four Seasons, which served as a filming location for the first two seasons, has several luxury hotels in the country. (In Season 1, the Four Seasons Maui served as White Lotus’ asset while the Four Seasons San Domenico Palace replaced the asset in Season 2. )
The Plot
Although White is keeping quiet about the story for now, he told EW, “It’s going to be an oversized White Lotus. It will be longer, bigger, and crazier. I don’t know what other people will think, but me. “I’m great. ” excited, so at least for my own barometer, that’s a smart thing to do. . . I’m really excited about the content of the season.
The White Lotus seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming on Max.
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