Where Will Season 4 of The White Lotus Be Set? An Investigation by Us
With the thrilling conclusion of The White Lotus season 3 now behind us, Us is eager to see what showrunner Mike White has in store for the series next — and which stunning location he will choose.
Initially debuting as a limited series in August 2021, The White Lotus garnered significant success, leading to the production of two additional seasons and transforming it into an anthology series, with each installment set at a different White Lotus resort.
The inaugural season was set in Hawaii, followed by Sicily, Italy, in the second season, and Thailand for the third. Even before the premiere of the latest installment, The White Lotus was renewed for a fourth season, slated for January 2025.
But where will our favorite wealthy, hedonistic, and at times lethal cast of characters venture to in the upcoming season? Us Weekly may have a few predictions.
Considering that every White Lotus season is filmed at a Four Seasons resort, we can use the process of elimination to determine which resorts might be available for White, 54, to choose from.
By ruling out the three resorts already featured (the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, the Four Seasons Taormina at San Domenico Palace, and the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui), we are left with 131 potential venues. It is also reasonable to deduce that White may wish to avoid returning to locations in Hawaii, Italy, or Thailand to maintain originality, thereby reducing our options to 122 properties.
However, there’s a twist: While previous seasons have predominantly taken place at beachfront resorts, White recently stated, “For the fourth season, I want to move beyond the ‘crashing waves against rocks’ narrative.”
But don’t get your hopes up just yet: director David Bernad has hinted that it’s quite unlikely they will explore a ski resort or any cold-weather destination.
“I’d bet $100,000 we don’t end up in the cold next. Even if we considered the idea, Mike just wouldn’t want to be in that climate. He dislikes it,” he conveyed to The Hollywood Reporter recently.
By eliminating all beachfront resorts — as well as those located in U.S. mainland cities, in keeping with the trend of overseas travel after season one’s Hawaiian escapade — we arrive at 43 remaining possibilities.
During Sydney’s Vivid Festival, White expressed a desire to “hit every continent.” However, just last week, he informed Howard Stern of his belief that “we probably won’t go to South America.”
Removing South America, North America, Europe, and Asia from the equation leaves us with only five options — strongly suggesting an African destination is on the horizon.
Among the shortlisted potential filming locations for season 4 are two venues in Cairo, one at the Nile Plaza and the other at The First Residence, along with the Four Seasons Safari Lodge at Serengeti National Park, The Westcliff in Johannesburg, and the Four Seasons in Marrakech.
Will we witness a new ensemble of fan favorites marveling at the Great Pyramids? Rubbing shoulders with elephants and lions on a Serengeti safari? It’s possible!
A season set in Johannesburg, South Africa — a nation still confronting the troublesome legacy of apartheid — would resonate with the themes The White Lotus aims to explore: economic disparity, indigenous cultures, colonial issues, racial inequalities, and satirizing the region’s social and political matters.
Furthermore, White has acknowledged that “the location we choose next could have significant effects on that destination.” A White Lotus season in South Africa could potentially benefit the country’s economy, which has experienced a sharp decline over the past decade, as well as raise awareness toward both its present and historical challenges.
While we can speculate, ultimately, only Mike White knows what surprises he has in store. (Take the season 3 finale, for example — what a twist!) Regardless of where it may be set, we’ll be tuning in every Sunday when season 4 debut airs.
