There’s trouble in paradise – again. With the release of the first full trailer for Season 3 of the must-watch series The White Lotus, it’s clear that while the location has changed, the behaviour of the guests. And neither has the fate of at least one of them.
There’s secrets, sex, death, debauchery, drugs, a full moon party and even a familiar face from a previous series. It’s no wonder that one character asks in the trailer: “What the f–k is this place?”
To find out the answer to that question and more, read on.
What is the plot of The White Lotus?
The White Lotus, created, written and directed by Mike White, premiered July 2021. and immediately won a devoted fan base. It follows the exploits of a group of guests and employees over the span of a week, all from different backgrounds with a variety of agendas and predilections, laying the groundwork for a dark social satire.
It’s the lifestyles of the rich and shameless, with aspirational fashion, a murder mystery and a touch of travel to exotic destinations thrown in to boot.
Season 1 was set in Hawaii and received 20 Emmy nominations, taking home 10 gongs, proving why it’s worth critical acclaim. The second instalment, which premiered in December 2022 and was set in Sicily, got 23 Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, and five wins.
“The first season we highlighted money and then the second season is sex and I think the third season, it would be maybe a kind of satirical and funny look at death in Eastern religion and spirituality — it feels like it could be a rich tapestry to do another round at White Lotus,” White told HBO.
The trailer has given some major hints of what viewers can expect.
Sam Nivola, who stars as a high school senior Lochlan Ratliff, ponders in one clip, “If everyone gives in to their base instinct it would be total depravity, like a race to the bottom.” In another part of the trailer, there’s a voiceover froma a Buddhist monk. “Everyone runs from pain towards pleasure, but they get there only to find more pain,” he says.
But it’s Parker Posey’s Victoria Ratliff, Lochlan’s mother, that sums it up best: “I’ve got a really bad feeling,” she whispers.
Where will The White Lotus Season 3 take place?
This season, the guests are checking in to The White Lotus Thailand. The series was filmed in Bangkok, Phuket and Ko Samui in partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
White said he wanted to move away from North America and Europe for the third season. “You know, we did Europe, and maybe Asia, something crazy like that, that would be fun,” he told Deadline.
He later confirmed that Season 3 would be a “satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality”.
Who is in the cast for The White Lotus Season 3?
It’s another ensemble cast that’s checked in for this instalment. Like previous seasons there’s some big names that will get even bigger after this, as well as some new stars in the making.
Parker Posey, Jason Isaacs, Leslie Bibb, Dom Hetrakul, Michelle Monaghan and Tayme Thapthimthong all star, as well as Carrie Coon, who stars in HBO’s The Gilded Age and The Leftovers.
Fans will also be pleased to know Natasha Rothwell will be returning to reprise her role as spa attendant Belinda from Season 1. “I’m starting to feel like something good is going to come out of this,” she says, explaining she’s on an exchange program.
When does The White Lotus Season 3 release?
The third eight-episode season is set to hit screens on February 17, exclusively on Binge.
Where to watch The White Lotus in Australia?
You can stream both seasons of The White Lotus now on Binge to catch up before Season 3 arrives.
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