*Contains series 3 spoilers*
Champagne, truffles, macarons... France is a country of luxury, which is why it makes total sense that The White Lotus is taking its fourth instalment there, according to Deadline. Yes, the five-star hotel murder-mystery is reportedly bringing some of its chaos and - we imagine! - toxic relationships over to the country. While the specific hotel hasn’t been announced just yet, there are just three Four Seasons properties in France (the show has a partnership with the chain), meaning we can narrow it down to a selection of locations: a village resort in the heart of the Alps, a clifftop hotel in the South of France, and a historic palace in central Paris.
And what else do we know? Well, after that devastating finale in the third series, we’re keenly awaiting the next instalment of the show, as a fourth was confirmed earlier this year. The White Lotus creator Mike White has teased that “there’s always room for more murders” so it looks like we can expect to see more characters meet a terrible fate in series 4. While we know Mike is back on board, will any cast members from previous series be joining him? And what twists and turns could the series 4 plot have in store for them?
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While we wait for The White Lotus series 4 to arrive on our screens, here’s everything you need to know about the show, including the cast, plot, and how to watch it.
What is The White Lotus about?
The White Lotus is an award-winning drama which, each series, follows groups of guests at a luxurious holiday resort in different locations. Series one took place in Hawaii, followed by Italy in series two and, most recently, Thailand for series three. While the wealthy guests - a mix of couples, friends and families - appear to be on a dream holiday, cracks begin to appear in the veneer of their perfect lives, leading to deadly consequences for at least one guest person series.
The victim of series one was hotel manager Armond (played by Murray Barlett), while in series two it was guest Tanya (played by Jennifer Coolidge). We first met Tanya in series when the rich holiday-goer arrived at the Hawaii resort with her husband, Greg. In the series, Tanya befriends Natasha, who works in the resort spa, and promises to help fund her business venture, only to back out at the last moment.
Jennifer's portrayal of Tanya became iconic, and fans were thrilled to see her return in series two, delivering more fantastic lines such as, "These gays are trying to kill me!" Unfortunately, she was right, as her husband Greg had set her up to be murdered. While she manages to evade her attackers, Tanya meets her end anyway when her heel gets trapped in the railings of a boat mid-escape, causing her to fall overboard. Series three then saw us not only reintroduced to both Greg and Natasha (who find themselves at the Thailand resort together), but also facing the loss of the new viewers' favourite character from this series.
What happened in The White Lotus series 3?
In series 3, Natasha arrives in Thailand, keen to learn from the White Lotus team there and enjoy time with her son, only to see Greg with his young new girlfriend, pretending to be someone else. Meanwhile, brand new guests are arriving on the island, including a very troubled family of five (the sons of which ending up in a compromising situation with Greg's new girlfriend) and three very toxic 'best' friends.
But the star of the show is Chelsea, played my Aimee Lou-Wood, the young girlfriend to Rick, a secretly scheming middle aged guest. While Chelsea thinks they're simply on a happy holiday together, brooding Rick is plotting to kill the man he believes ruined his life, Jim Hollinger who is the hotel's owner. Rick eventually succeeds but, devastatingly, a kerfuffle with Jim's guards leads to multiple shots being fired and Chelsea being tragically struck. Rick himself is then shot while carrying her body.
The first episode began with gunshots before a floating body was revealed, so an impending death had been foreshadowed throughout the series, although we don't know who it is - the trademark White Lotus structure. Sadly, this time, it's Chelsea who meets her end in series 3 which was a major blow to viewers who got behind her character. Fans had speculated throughout the series about who might be the target of the series 3 death, with various clues pointing towards Chelsea (she wore a necklace with the words 'Stay Gold' on - the final words of a character's famous death in The Outsiders, for instance) but her demise in the dramatic finale still hit hard.
Where will The White Lotus series 4 be set?
Finalement! Deadline has reported that series 4 of The White Lotus will be set in France, and speculation is already rife as to where exactly more mystery and murders will take place. Thanks to the show’s ongoing partnership with the Four Seasons hotels, it could be the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, a gorgeous property perched on the tip of the Cap-Ferrat peninsula. Not only is this set in the stunning French Riviera, but the hotel already has a showbiz association - its proximity to Cannes means it already has Hollywood ties.
Two other possibilities are the Megève in the French Alps, a popular ski resort in winter, and Hotel George V in Paris, both Four Seasons hotels. Creator Mike White chose beachside resorts in Hawaii, Sicily and Thailand for series 1 to 3 - and he did tell Deadline that “for the fourth season, I want to get a little bit out of the crashing waves of rocks vernacular but there’s always more room for more murders at the White Lotus hotels.” So if beaches are out - could we see a ski season of The White Lotus with some chalet-based drama?
At the same time, White is known for hating the cold - which could rule the Megève out, meaning that perhaps Paris will be the place. However, sources told Deadline that there is currently not a hotel locked in for the series, adding that The White Lotus often uses a variety of hotels for filming purposes - as it did in series 3, with the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui and other luxury Thai hotels. Whichever they choose, there’ll no doubt be five-star service and jaw-dropping backdrops in abundance.
Who is in The White Lotus series 4 cast?
The official cast for series four hasn't been released but, as previous seasons have seen characters like Greg, Tanya and Natasha return for to further develop their storylines, we're expecting to see some familiar faces back again. With each series taking place in a new location, we can be sure they'll be a whole host of brand new cast members playing wealthy guests with hidden secrets, and the staff tasked with managing them (who often find themselves entangled in the messy lives and dark deeds of their patrons).
Where can I watch The White Lotus?
The White Lotus is available to watch on NOW TV and Sky. Series four is expected to be released in 2027.
