The Next Season of The White Lotus Is Officially Heading to a New Location
Season 4 of HBO’s “The White Lotus” is officially in the works, and all signs point to the City of Love as its next playground of wealth and chaos. The Emmy-winning anthology was renewed in January 2025, and production is expected to begin in 2026, with the show likely returning to screens in 2027.
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Creator Mike White suggested France as the setting while filming season 3 in Thailand, and HBO quickly approved the idea. The network hasn’t confirmed which city or region will host the story, though Deadline reports the French Riviera’s Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat is the leading candidate. Other possible Four Seasons options include the George V in Paris and Megève in the Alps.
Fans have come to love the show’s globe-hopping format. Hawaii set the tone in season 1, followed by Sicily in season 2 and Thailand in season 3. A Paris hotel would mark the first urban backdrop in the series, while Megève would introduce snow, although White is famously not fond of cold settings. As with earlier seasons, multiple resorts could appear and keep audiences guessing where the trouble will actually unfold.
Casting Clues and Creative Shifts
Casting is still under wraps, but tradition suggests White will introduce a new ensemble of actors by mixing Hollywood favorites with rising stars. Speculation about returning characters, however, has already started. Jon Gries’s Greg, who survived the bloody finale of season 3, might reappear, as could Natasha Rothwell’s Belinda, newly rich and possibly ready to open her own spa. Nicholas Duvernay, who played Belinda’s son Zion, could also return. Parker Posey has floated the idea of Lisa Kudrow joining the cast, and Kudrow herself has said she’d happily work with White.
One of the most noticeable shakeups in season 4 will be behind the scenes. Cristóbal Tapia de Veer, the Emmy-winning composer behind the instantly recognizable theme song, won’t be returning after creative disagreements with the series director. Their split became public and somewhat messy, with White criticizing how the departure was handled.
Fans still remember the outcry when the theme changed in season 3, so anticipation for the new opening music is high. White has also hinted that the show’s visual style will shift by moving away from its trademark crashing waves and rocky coastlines. Still, he’s promised the heart of the show remains intact, joking that there’s “always room for more murders at the White Lotus hotels.”
What Comes Next
The wait for season 4 will be long, but HBO’s programming chief Francesca Orsi has hinted that White’s vision goes beyond just one more season. There are even conversations about an “all-star” edition that could bring back past fan favorites like Jake Lacy’s Shane, Theo James’s Cameron, or Patrick Schwarzenegger’s Saxon.
White said it would be fun, though scheduling could be tricky now that many former cast members have become much bigger stars. France may sell itself as a place for romance and fine wine, but under his direction, it’s bound to serve disaster along with the champagne.