“I almost died today…but we got the room comped, didn’t we babe? So that was cool.” So sums up the perfect combination of drama and comedy of HBO’s The White Lotus, which will return to our screens for its third season on February 16th – this time set in paradisiacal Thailand.
Like its predecessors, the small screen sensation that ignited a so-called ‘golden era’ of television is jam-packed full of madcap plots, outrageous characters and gorgeous locations. Season one took advantage of the empty hotels during lockdown, filming at the luxurious Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. Season two managed to supersede even Hawaii’s sky-high setting, shooting across picturesque Sicily and set mainly at the San Domenico Hotel in Taormina (also a Four Seasons resort).
Season three sees a whole new crew of ultra-rich holiday-makers check in to a new branch of The White Lotus Hotel (apparently undeterred by the deaths and divorces that seem to constantly crop up in the hotel chain), this time to a lush outcrop in Thailand. Actors in the cast include Harry Potter star Jason Isaacs, Sex Education‘s Aimee Lou Wood, Lalisa Manobal and (a return from season one) Natasha Rothwell, who will recommence her role as spa manager, Belinda Lindsey).
Filming started in Thailand in February 2024
It has been confirmed that filming for the series took place in the capital city of Bangkok as well as on the islands of Phuket and Koh Samui. “We are pleased to partner with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to execute Mike White’s creative vision and showcase all that the beautiful country of Thailand has to offer, as the next group of guests check in to The White Lotus,” said the executive vice president of production for HBO, Janet Graham Borba, in a statement about the series. HBO reportedly negotiated a lucrative deal with Thailand, to the tune of a 30 per cent tax rebate, which amounted to $4.4 million in actual savings. This helped to lure creators away from other potential destinations for the new season, including Japan.
The White Lotus showrunner Mike White also selected Thailand because of its spiritual and religious connections. “The first season kind of highlighted money, and then the second season is sex, and I think the third season, it would be a satirical and funny look at death and eastern religion and spirituality. And it feels like it could be a rich tapestry to do another round of White Lotus,” the series creator explained in the Unpacking bonus feature for the season two finale on HBO Max. According to HBO’s Drama Chief, Francesca Orsi, Thailand also appealed to the show-runner Mike White because it allowed the plot to explore “spirituality versus the ego,” which can be “set against the Eastern religion.”
Four Seasons Koh Samui
