Get ready to head east (again!), because The White Lotus just dropped a major clue about its Season 3 filming location. HBO renewed the hit series on November 18 in the midst of its second season set in Sicily, Italy, noting that the third installment will follow “a new group of guests at a different White Lotus property.”
“Considering the humble run-and-gun origins of ‘The White Lotus’ as a contained pandemic production, it’s impossible not to be impressed, how [creator Mike White] orchestrated one of the liveliest and most critically acclaimed shows. And yet, it’s only in season two that he’s reached new heights, which is the ultimate testament to Mike’s raw, unparalleled vision,” Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of HBO programming, head of HBO Drama Series and Films, said in a statement. “We couldn’t be more excited to get the chance to collaborate on a third season together.”
Though the broadcaster’s announcement didn’t specify where in the world this property might be located, the Unpacking Episode 7 segment, which ties into the season 2 finale that aired Dec. 11, reveals the potential location and the Third season theme. “The first season was about money and the second season was about sex,” White says after the end of season two. “I think season three might be a satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality. It feels like taking another spin at White Lotus could be a rich tapestry.”
This isn’t the first time White has hinted at another eastern filming location for season three of The White Lotus. Ahead of the show’s second season premiere on Oct. 30, he said meeting“I think it would be fun to maybe go to a whole different continent. You know we did Europe and maybe Asia, something crazy that would be fun.”
While White also expressed an interest in bringing back Jennifer Coolidge’s beloved character, Tanya, for another season, given the fate that befalls her at the end of season two, the chances of that now seem highly unlikely. Of her tragic end, White says in Unpacking, “I thought it would be so fun to bring Tanya back because she’s such a great character, but maybe that’s the journey for her, a journey into her death.” He adds : “Not that I really wanted to kill Tanya because I love her as a character and obviously love Jennifer, but I just felt like we’re going to Italy, she’s such a diva — a larger than life female archetype — it we felt.” , we could make up our own operatic conclusion to Tanya’s life and story.”
The first season of The White Lotus premiered in July 2021 and won 10 Emmys at this year’s awards ceremony. The second season — starring Coolidge Aubrey Plaza, Michael Imperioli, Meghann Fahy, Theo James, Haley Lu Richardson and Tom Hollander — kicked off the 2023 awards season on Dec. 12 with four Golden Globes nominations. HBO hasn’t announced a release date for yet the third season, but presumably we can expect it sometime next year or early 2024.
— Additional reporting by Njera Perkins