The second season of The White Lotus ended on a tragic note, leaving fans to wonder whether the series will return after concluding Tanya’s storyline. But you will be surprised to know that the series creator, Mike White, is all set to bring back the thrilling and dark comedy series on our screens. That’s right! The White Lotus Season 3 is already happening.
The showrunner recently released how things will move in the next season. So, without further ado, let’s head to see how things will play out in the other chain of White Lotus Resort.
Created by Mike White, The White Lotus focuses on the lives of the guests and employees of the fictional resort White Lotus. The show focuses on their interactions and how their lives take a twisting turn. Their interactions are also affected by several psychosocial dysfunctions. However, as the series progresses, it focuses on a darker storyline, and the complexity emerges in those travelers’ and employees’ lives.
The White Lotus Season 3 Is Back
The White Lotus has created a separate fanbase among dramedy fans, which can be seen in its high popularity. HBO officially renewed the series for the third season just a month after its debut. The sophomore season debuted back in October 2022, and the network soon renewed it for Season 3.
In addition, the series creator and showrunner Mike White teased that the upcoming season will be “supersized.” He told Entertainment Weekly that this season is going to be “longer, bigger, and crazier.” He added that he is super excited, “so at least for my own barometer, that’s a good thing.” White is excited about the content of this new season and how things will be played off.
While it remains unclear what happened in The White Lotus Season 3, Michelle Monaghan, the newcomer cast of this season, confirmed that this season will be bigger than the first two seasons. In addition, Monaghan said that the third season will have a larger ensemble cast. That’s because this season is “really special.”
When Will The Filming Of The White Lotus Season 3 Start?
While the third season was renewed in 2022, it didn’t undergo production last year. White shared that they planned to start filming The White Lotus Season 3 “at the beginning of the year.” However, the SAG-AFTRA strike hindered their plans. White added that he had already finished the scripting work, but the Hollywood strike pushed the casting process.
He told EW that he would have to push the casting process again if the strike weren’t resolved soon. That was because they had a new cast every season, so many things had to be seen. The showrunner has yet to share when filming will begin. However, he has revealed that the series will be filmed in Asia. White told Deadline that the first season took place in Hawaii, and the second season was filmed in Italy.
So, now they are ready to film in Asia. He said, “Something crazy like that, that would be fun,” referring to filming in an Asian country. Executive producer David Bernad added that they hoped to work in Asia and that The White Lotus Season 3 could make this happen.
HBO later confirmed that Season 3 of The White Lotus will be shot in Bangkok, Phuket, and Ko Samui. Filming is supposed to start in February 2024. According to reports, it will take place at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui for three months. The reports further state that the filming would move to Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas in April and May. However, the network has yet to confirm this.
Filming Was Supposed To Happen In Japan
Initially, The White Lotus Season 3 was rumored to be filmed in Tokyo. However, the filming location was later shifted to Thailand. Deadline reported that the shift was due to “tax incentives.” At the Tokyo Film Festival, Japanese producer Georgia Pope said that they had a location scouting trip, and it was great. Pope recalled seeing some stunning locations in Honshu; the showrunner loved it all.
The producer was confident that Season 3 would take place in Japan. However, things ultimately changed when a Thai production company entered the picture. The series crew shared that the Thai production company ensured a 30 percent rebate. Pope revealed, “For their project [in Thailand], that means $4.4 million alone.” However, in Japan, they had no incentive. All they could hear “was the sound of a $35 million project flying out the window.”
The White Lotus Season 3 Cast Details
The third season will welcome back Natasha Rothwell as the spa manager Belinda Lindsey. She was scammed in the first season by Tanya. While Tanya’s actress won’t return, the third season will bring some new cast members to the picture. These include Carrie Coon, Michelle Monaghan, Leslie Bibb, Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, Tayme Thapthimthong, and Dom Hetrakul.
HBO also announced that more newcomers will join the series. These include Walton Goggins, Aimee Lou Wood, and Patrick Schwarzenegger. Interestingly, Blackpink‘s Lisa Manobal is also on board for The White Lotus Season 3. Besides her, Nicholas Duvernay, Sarah Catherine Hook, and Arna Fedaravičius will also join the show for the third season.
The other cast members include Christian Friedel, Shalini Peiris, Lek Patravadi, and Morgana O’Reilly. Initially, it was reported that Francesca Corney and Miloš Biković would join the third season. However, it was later reported that their roles have been recast. Charlotte Le Bon will replace Corney for the next season, while Julian Kostov will replace Biković for her connection to Russia.
Later, the first season star Connie Britton, who played Nicole, told Deadline that the showrunner wanted her to be in the second season. However, they couldn’t put things to work in season 2. She was excited that her character would return for season 3. But a spokesperson told TVLine that Britton wouldn’t be a part of the next installment.
What Will Happen In The White Lotus Season 3?
Although nothing is known about The White Lotus Season 3, White did share how things would move in the third run. In a recent clip, the showrunner shared that the first season highlighted money, and the second focused on sex. So, it is expected that the third season will be focused on some “satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality.”
He added that the third season will focus on a rich tapestry as it will take another round on the series. White hinted that some parts of the second season could carry over to the third run. He said the murder-for-hire plot could revisit The White Lotus. The plot revolves around Tanya’s husband, Greg (Jon Gries), and her assistant, Portia (Haley Lu Richardson), who will also play a part in the next season.
White added that Portia was scared enough to stay alone after the conspiracy related to Tanya’s death and what happened to Greg. However, those guys died in the second season, so it could be possible that someone else could track them down to take Greg’s revenge. Meanwhile, HBO’s head, Casey Bloys, told Deadline that they hadn’t seen any footage of the third season.
He had only read scripts and seen dailies. So, he had high hopes with The White Lotus Season 3. However, when it comes to the storyline, he doesn’t know how things will move in the third part. But one thing is sure: season 3 will focus on a multigenerational gang with a patriarch, a couple of mothers, a female corporate executive, a country club wife, a yogi, and a misfit.
The White Lotus Season 3 Release Date
The series is currently in production, which means it won’t return this year. HBO chairman and CEO Casey Bloys confirmed the news. In a press conference, Bloys reported that the White Lotus Season 3 release date was set for 2024, but the show will now be part of the 2025 lineup. While the exact release date hasn’t been shared, Bloys told Deadline that season 3 will arrive in the first half of the year. This is all for now. Stay with TechRadar247 for more such updates.
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