In summary:
- Tech Advisor reports that The White Lotus Season 4 has assembled an impressive international cast including French star Vincent Cassel, Helena Bonham Carter, and Steve Coogan.
- The upcoming season breaks tradition by filming in France at Saint-Tropez’s Château de La Messardière and a Paris hotel, moving away from Four Seasons properties.
- Notable changes include a new composer replacing Cristóbal Tapia de Veer due to artistic differences, while maintaining the show’s signature dark satire themes.
After months of rumours, HBO has revealed not only where the fourth season of The White Lotus will be filmed, but also who will portray some of the over-privileged hotel guests. The cast is growing fast, with French, American and British actors recently announced.
In case you needed reminding, The White Lotus is a dark satire about money, more money, sex, families and the decadent side of five-star tourism. Those themes likely won’t change. However, season 4 may be a little different from the previous three.
Firstly, Cristóbal Tapia de Veer, who created the iconic White Lotus theme songs, won’t return to work on season 4. In an interview with The New York Times, the composer revealed that work on the series was marked by artistic differences and that “he and White already had [their] last fight forever”. In a statement for The Howard Stern Show, the showrunner denied a feud with Tapia de Veer, but he did acknowledge that the collaboration was difficult. So someone else will be stepping into this role.
Here’s everything you need to know about the next season. You can also read our review of season 3.
What is the potential release date for The White Lotus season 4?
On 22 January 2025, over three weeks before the season 3 premiere, HBO green-lit season four. Filming for the next series will kick off in April 2026, so based on previous seasons, we would expect it to debut on Max in 2027.
Where will The White Lotus season 4 be set?
The fourth season will be set in France – but in two spots, rather than one. Another departure from the series’ tradition is the decision to drop the Four Seasons hotels as filming locations. Until now, The White Lotus has been filmed mainly at the luxury chain’s properties. However, HBO chose not to renew its partnership with the Four Seasons.
As reported by Variety, season 4 of White Lotus will shoot at a hotel resort located in the 19th-century palace Château de La Messardière in Saint-Tropez on the Côte d’Azur. Another location will be a hotel in Paris.
Of course, in previous seasons, the action also took place in several locations. In season 2, Harper (Aubrey Plaza) and Daphne (Meghann Fahy) went on a trip to Noto and spent the night at a luxurious palazzo there. In season 3, Rick (Walton Goggins) travelled to Bangkok to meet with his father’s alleged killer.
Who will star in The White Lotus season 4?
Helena Bonham Carter has been cast in one of the leading roles. The two-time Oscar nominee is known for her appearances in the Harry Potter film franchise, The King’s Speech, Sweeney Todd and Fight Club. The role in The White Lotus will mark Bonham Carter’s return to television after portraying Princess Margaret in two seasons of The Crown.
Another big star of the season will be Vincent Cassel, best known for his roles in La Haine and Irréversible, and in English-language cinema for Ocean’s Twelve, Ocean’s Thirteen, and Black Swan.
Chris Messina has also joined the cast of The White Lotus season 4. The American actor is best known for The Mindy Project, where he portrayed snarky Danny Castellano. Messina also starred in series such as Sharp Objects, Based on a True Story, and Gaslit. His film career features roles in Argo and Birds of Prey, among others.
Steve Coogan is another British addition to the cast. Famously, he portrayed Alan Partridge, a comedy character, in a variety of satirical programmes. Coogan is also known for starring in the Night at the Museum franchise, Tropic Thunder and the four-time Oscar-nominated Philomena.
In season 2, we will also see Sandra Bernhard, an actress known from The King of Comedy, Pose and Severance.
Corentin Fila is another French actor joining the team. You may recognise him from roles in Being 17 and Escort Boys.
Joining the series are also:
- Ari Graynor (Monsters, The Disaster Artist)
- Nadia Tereszkiewicz (Rosalie and Heads or Tails?)
- Marissa Long (Harrison Bergeron)
- Caleb Jonte Edward (Black Snow)
- Alexander Ludwig (Vikings, Bad Boys: Ride or Die)
- AJ Michalka (The Good Doctor, Ray Donovan: The Movie)
- Dylan Ennis
What is the plot of The White Lotus season 4?
The theme is unknown for now.
Which characters will return for season 4?
Contains spoilers for seasons 1, 2 and 3.
The White Lotus is an anthology series that features a different cast each season, although there’s one story strand that began in season one and has continued throughout.
Belinda Lindsey (Natasha Rothwell) first appeared in season one as the Maui resort’s spa manager. After impressing multi-millionaire Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge) with a massage, Tanya suggests she bankroll her to set up her own spa.
But after a meet-cute with fellow guest Greg Hunt (John Gries), Tanya drops Belinda faster than you can say “romance scam”.
Tanya and Greg appear again in season two on a romantic break at the Sicilian resort, but Greg soon invents a pretext to return home, leaving Tanya to be bumped off by a local mafia connection. Tanya almost escapes in a confused shootout, but dies while making her escape from a luxury yacht.
Warner Bros.
In season three, Belinda reappears, visiting the Thai resort to share techniques with spa manager Pornchai. While there, she spots local resident Gary, whom she recognises as none other than Greg, now wanted for questioning over his wife’s death.
Belinda’s son, Zion, negotiates a deal with Greg/Gary to keep his secret – in return for $5 million, so his mother can finally set up her spa. As she’s leaving, she brushes off Pornchai, with whom she had formed a romantic and business connection, just as Tanya once did to her.
Their story could end here, with the narrative coming full circle. But now that Belinda is rich, can Mike White resist the urge to see how her windfall corrupts her? And will he let Greg/Gary go on living in consequence-free luxury?
There are other options too. In a video unpacking the season 2 finale, Mike White joked about the return of the Di Grasso family:
Who knows, maybe there’ll be another White Lotus season where Dominic returns with his wife and they patch things up!
They didn’t make an appearance in season 3, but could season 4 be a possibility? Considering that the voice of Dom’s wife in season 2 was recorded by Laura Dern, it would be a welcome return.
Warner Bros.
Is there a trailer for The White Lotus season 4?
Not yet, but if you miss The White Lotus, you can listen to the uncut version of the season 3 theme score, posted by the composer Cristóbal Tapia de Veer (featuring everyone’s favourite ooh-loo-loo-loos).
How to watch The White Lotus
In the US, Mike White’s series is available on HBO Max. A basic, ad-supported subscription costs $10.99 per month – there are ad-free options available as well.
In the UK, you can watch The White Lotus via the Now website. An Entertainment Membership is priced at £9.99 a month, but now you can get it for £3.99 per month for the first 12 months at the time of writing.
Alternatively, UK-based fans can catch up on the series on Sky Atlantic if this channel is included in their TV package. The White Lotus will also be available on HBO Max, since it’s coming to the UK this spring.