Get your passports and your credit cards ready, because we're heading back to The White Lotus, baby! It's been two long years, but the HBO dramedy is finally coming back for a season 3. And, this time, The White Lotus is taking us to a brand new location and giving us a host of brand new rich vacationers to obsess over. Can't wait for the premiere to find out more? We've got all the details about The White Lotus season 3 right here.
When is season 3 premiering? Are there any trailers?
In November 2023, HBO and Max CEO and Chairman Casey Bloys confirmed that the show was set to return in 2025 at a press event. The series was moved back from its original 2024 date, but the good news is it'll be hitting HBO again on February 16, 2025. You can get a sneak peek at all the upcoming drama in the trailer below.
Where does season 3 of The White Lotus take place?
When season 2 ended, creator Mike White hinted that the third could take place somewhere in Asia. “I think the third season would be maybe a satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality. It feels like it could be a rich tapestry to do another round at White Lotus.” Now, with season 3 just around the corner, we know that it takes place in Thailand.
There was never actually supposed to be a season 2 of the show. Season 1 was categorized as a miniseries. But because White figured out a formula for season 2, it feels like he could replicate that for as many seasons as he wants. Like he said, what’s stopping them from doing versions of this in every major city in the world? (Money, probably. And time. But whatever!)
Who has been cast in The White Lotus season 3?
According to Deadline, sources say that the *very* day that the SAG-AFTRA strike ended, the show started the casting process for its upcoming season. And all that hard work paid off.
On January 5, 2024, Variety reported that several new cast members are checking into the White Lotus this season, including Leslie Bibb, Dom Hetrakul, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey, and Tayme Thapthimthong. Next, Carrie Coon revealed that she would be joining the cast, continuing her ultimate HBO takeover—we love to see it.
HBO then announced five (yes, FIVE!!!) new faces that will be checking in: Miloš Biković, Christian Friedel, Morgana O’Reilly, Lek Patravadi, and Shalini Peiris. And Variety reported that Walton Goggins, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Aimee Lou Wood, Sarah Catherine Hook, and Sam Nivola were signing on.
And, as a cherry on top of an incredibly star-studded cake, Lisa from BLACKPINK was cast as a hotel employee in The White Lotus season 3. According to Variety, the K-Pop star will be credited under her given name, Lalisa Manobal. And we got a sneak peek of her character who seems to be working at the hotel. According to her name tag, her character's name is Mook. But we'll have to wait for when the show is back to find out more about her.
As for returning cast members, there's only been one confirmed so far. Natasha Rothwell, aka White Lotus spa manager Belinda Lindsey from season 1, will be returning in season 3. Based on her appearance in the trailer, it looks like Belinda will be on a work trip to learn about how the White Lotus Thailand spa operates.
If you recall from way back when, Belinda was highkey strung along by Tanya with the promise of a massive investment to open her own practice…and we all know how that turned out, sadly. But who knows? Maybe this season, she’ll finally get to make it happen, in which case I’ll be beyond thrilled because she really deserves it!
What will season 3 be about?
That’s another big question. Season 1 focused mostly on race and class, and while all of that did come into play in season 2 as well, it focused a lot more on gender and sexual politics. It’s possible these could be the main themes going forward and the discussion about them would continue instead of picking a new topic to focus on.
But if they do take the show to Asia, it could be really interesting to play around with and examine the culture clash between (American) tourists and the people who actually live in that region of the world, especially in regards to religion, like White said. There’s certainly a lot to talk about there!
But the real question: When will people stop checking in to White Lotus resorts?
Like, how many bodies have to pile up before people stop going to White Lotus locations?! Seriously. Rich people are so dumb.
