Soon after The White Lotus’s Season 3 ended, TWL’s creator Mike White spoke to journalists about where the fourth season could take place. White obviously hasn’t written anything yet, and he and his team are still scouting locations. White said: “For the fourth season, I want to get a little bit out of the ‘crashing waves against rocks’ vernacular.” The first season was set in Hawaii, the second in Sicily, and the third in Thailand, all of them very beachy and sunny. Some suggested that White could go for a “safari” resort, perhaps basing the drama in a Four Seasons hotel in Kenya or Tanzania. Someone suggested an Egyptian adventure too, perhaps something set amid the pyramids. Some suggested a ski holiday, which I could also see being a rich background for TWL’s shenanigans. All of these are good ideas, but according to NewsNation’s gossip person, White’s team has been scouting… the Cote d’Azur??
Fans of “The White Lotus” were devastated at the end of the hit HBO show’s third season, wondering when the next season will hit — and where it will be.
Speculation online arose that instead of being at a seaside resort as the last three seasons have been, the upcoming season would be mountainous (Season one was filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea in Hawaii; season two was in Sicily and season three was in Koh Sami, Thailand).
But the rumors are untrue. I can now reveal the latest season is likely to be filmed in the south of France, at the Four Season-owned Hotel du Cap-Ferrat. My insider says creator Mike White and his crew are in the South of France right now scouting all locations and the Hotel du Cap, described once by producer Robert Evans as “impossibly glamorous,” is perfect for the scandalous, murder ridden show.
A favorite during Cannes, the hotel is always full of royalty, celebrities — and scandal. According to the Rake, “Pablo Picasso and Gary Cooper apparently once set up a shooting gallery in the gardens, and more recent incidents have included American industrialist Marvin Davis being robbed of $10 million in cash and jewels at gunpoint in his limo in 1993; Kate Moss being banned for trashing her room after being told she couldn’t wear a bikini in the hotel’s hallways in 1998; and Sharon Stone demonstrating her ability to flash the readies in more ways the one by simultaneously ordering a harpist in traditional Irish dress and a Nebuchadnezzar of Champagne.”
Honestly, it’s been years since the South of France has had a big, scandalous story. Scandals used to pop up all the time in and around the Cannes Film Festival especially, but it’s been years since we’ve heard anything about random jet-set cokeheads yacht-hopping amid the glitterati. I could honestly see TWL coming in and trying to build on that faded luster and bygone scandal… but I still wish they would choose a place which has less pop-culture history, you know? “Oh, they’re filming in the hotel where Lindsay Lohan used to do blow and steal jewelry!” And??
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
- LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 10: Mike White at the LA Premiere of HBO s Original Series The White Lotus Season 3 at Paramount Theatre on February 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Copyright: xJeffreyxMayerx,Image: 962036832, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: imago is entitled to issue a simple usage license at the time of provision. Personality and trademark rights as well as copyright laws regarding art-works shown must be observed. Commercial use at your own risk., Model Release: no, Credit line: IMAGO/Jeffrey Mayer/Avalon
- LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 10: Mike White at the LA Premiere of HBO s Original Series The White Lotus Season 3 at Paramount Theatre on February 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Copyright: xJeffreyxMayerx,Image: 962036832, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: imago is entitled to issue a simple usage license at the time of provision. Personality and trademark rights as well as copyright laws regarding art-works shown must be observed. Commercial use at your own risk., Model Release: no, Credit line: IMAGO/Jeffrey Mayer/Avalon
- White Lotus Season 3 Premiere at Paramount Theater on February 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA,Image: 962255698, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Mike White, Credit line: Nicky Nelson/Wenn/Avalon
- LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 10: (L-R) Mike White and Lalisa Manobal attend the Los Angeles Premiere of HBO Original Series “The White Lotus” Season 3 at Paramount Theatre on February 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.,Image: 962772752, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Mike White, Lalisa Manobal, Credit line: Jeffrey Mayer/Avalon
- LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 10: Mike White attends the Los Angeles Premiere of HBO Original Series “The White Lotus” Season 3 at Paramount Theatre on February 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.,Image: 962929138, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Mike White, Credit line: Jeffrey Mayer/Avalon
I read newspaper stories that they already applied to film in NZ and Australia, then that he is in Marocco looking at locations, next that they are officially in talks about filming in Austria, now it’s the South of France.. Are they intentionally putting out wrong locations to get people off the lead? Or are they truly just randomly scouting world wide?
My first thought was, it must be a diversion. I believe the stories that he doesn’t want to do a cold weather series (as cool as that would be), but south of france is so silly. Really hanging out for a Dubai/Jordan/Egypt/Morocco etc. location.
White said on the WL podcast he might want to do a commentary on celebrity and set the season around a film festival so the location tracks.
It used to be said that “movie location scout” is the best job in the world…I bet Mike White is having a BALL “scouting” locations at Four Seasons hotels in all of the possible locations…on the studio’s dime. Who wouldn’t?
🥱 yawn
Unimaginative…
They have an official, commercial partnership with Four Seasons now so it will have to be at one of their properties. I was betting the next season would be at Naviva or at the Tented Camp with elephants.
I also suspect it’s a fake lead to throw off the actual destination (I still say in the Rockies (Whistler Blackcomb!)or the Alps would be great. That said I’ve seen photos of that hotel and it’s stunning. I love the Cote D’Azur – so beautiful and so much history too.
I doubt it because it would be close to repeating the second season’s locale, but anything could happen depending on what tax breaks the country arranges and what deals a resort will make. Filming logistics would probably be easier in France. I would really like a season set in Africa or South America, but would be okay with New Zealand.
I was really hoping for Cold Lotus (imagine the sweaters! The boots! The parkas!) but the one thing I do believe is that Mike white doesn’t want to go anywhere chilly.
As a fan of season 2 of WL (which I consider the best) and as a European, I would love to see a season set in the south of France! I just loved how rich and gothic Season 2 was. It included many references to Sicily’s culture and history. I think Season 3 treated Thailand in a more superficial manner, regrettably.