- HBO’s anthology series “The White Lotus” will return for a third season on February 16.
- Season three is set in Thailand and Natasha Rothwell will reprise her role as Belinda.
- New cast members include Patrick Schwarzenegger, Carrie Coon, and Jason Isaacs.
A new batch of wealthy vacationers will check into the lavish White Lotus resort when HBO’s “The White Lotus” returns for season three.
Since premiering in 2021, each season of Mike White’s “The White Lotus” has focused on a new group of rich people visiting the titular resort chain — but not everyone makes it out alive. And a newly released teaser trailer for season three of “The White Lotus” indicates that at least one character will end up in a body bag.
Here’s what to expect when the Emmy-winning anthology series returns for season three.
Season 3 was filmed on-location in Thailand
Season one took place in Hawaii, and season two was set in Sicily, Italy. In a featurette released after the season two finale, White alluded to Asia as the next destination.
“The first season kind of highlighted money, and then the second season is sex,” he said. “I think the third season would be maybe a satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality. It feels like it could be a rich tapestry to do another round at White Lotus.”
In March, Variety reported that season three would take place in Thailand.
The first official poster for season three of “The White Lotus” suggests that karma will be a major theme.
Natasha Rothwell will reprise her role as Belinda Lindsey
Natasha Rothwell played a spa owner in season one of “The White Lotus.”
Throughout the season, Jennifer Coolidge’s character, Tanya McQuoid, strung Belinda along and gave her hope that she’d fund her dream of developing a wellness center.
Tanya ultimately backed out of the deal, leaving Belinda disillusioned.
Variety first reported Rothwell’s return in April. She teased season three during an interview with Vanity Fair at the LA premiere of Wonka in December, saying that she “gasped out loud a minimum of five times” while reading the scripts.
“The scripts are a testament to Mike’s skill and ability to tell the most smart and entertaining stories,” Rothwell said. “I mean, everything that he does is like a lesson to me as an actor and a performer. And as a writer myself, he takes folks on a journey. Everyone needs to buckle up, because it’s going to get real!”
The first official teaser trailer for season three of “The White Lotus,” released on Monday, revealed that Belinda ends up in Thailand’s White Lotus resort as part of an exchange program.
‘The White Lotus’ season three cast includes Carrie Coon, Jason Isaacs, and Michelle Monaghan
HBO announced the following castings in January: Leslie Bibb (“American Housewife”), Dom Hetrakul, Jason Isaacs (“Harry Potter”), Michelle Monaghan (“Mission: Impossible”), Parker Posey (“Beau Is Afraid”), Tayme Thapthimthong, and Carrie Coon (“The Gilded Age”).
Five more actors were added to the cast later in the month: Walton Goggins (“Fallout”), Sarah Catherine Hook (“First Kill”), Sam Nivola (“Maestro”), Patrick Schwarzenegger (“Gen V”), and Aimee Lou Wood (“Sex Education”).
In February, Variety reported that Blackpink member Lisa also joined the cast and will be credited under her given name, Lalisa Manobal.
Little is known about the characters, but Manobal will be playing a staff member at the Thai resort.
Character descriptions released by HBO shared more insights into who the actors will be playing in the new season.
Bibb, Coon, and Monaghan portray three longtime friends on a girls’ trip who haven’t seen each other for a while; Goggins and Wood play an age-gap couple; and Isaacs and Posey star as a husband and wife duo vacationing with their three kids, played by Schwarzenegger, Hook, and Nivola.
Patravadi plays one of the owners of The White Lotus, Manobal portrays a health mentor for resort guests, and Thapthimthong plays a security guard.
The season follows the characters over the course of one week.
Mike White described the new season as ‘supersized’ and Patrick Schwarzenegger called it ‘insane’
“It’s going to be a supersized ‘White Lotus,'” White told Entertainment Weekly in November. “It’s going to be longer, bigger, crazier. I don’t know what people will think, but I am super excited, so at least for my own barometer, that’s a good thing.”
It’s unclear if White’s comment means that the season will contain more episodes or that the episodes will be longer — or both.
Schwarzenegger shared similar sentiments, telling Business Insider in November that the latest installment is “absolutely fucking insane.”
Season 3 will premiere on HBO on February 16
Season three, which will consist of eight episodes, was filmed in and around Koh Samui, Phuket, and Bangkok.
The new season will debut on Sunday, February 16 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and will stream on Max.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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