If HBO has not yet officially confirmed that season 4 of “The White Lotus” will be filmed in France, Variety learned that Mike White’s hit anthology would indeed be filming in the country and even actively sought out swanky locations in two iconic locations: Paris and the French Riviera.
Similar to Season 3 — which was filmed primarily on the island of Koh Samui with a few episodes in Bangkok, where Rick Hatchett (Walton Goggins) hatches a doomed revenge plan — Season 4’s story will likely take place primarily in the south of France, with a subplot in Paris. At this point, no hotels have been locked down for Season 4, which is still in development and won’t film until next year, according to sources.
Although the last three seasons took place at Four Seasons properties in Hawaii, Sicily and Thailand, season 4 will take a different path as HBO has not renewed its marketing partnership with the Four Seasons hotel chain.
Luxury hotels visited in Paris include the iconic Le Lutetia, a five-star establishment located on the left bank of the Seine, in the chic Saint-Germain des Prés district. Built in 1910, Le Lutetia (now part of the Mandarin Oriental chain) has been the second home of several iconic figures throughout history, including Charlie Chaplin, Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso and Josephine Baker. The other Parisian palace considered for season 4 is the Ritz Paris, another five-star hotel that opened in 1898 and was a favorite venue for Coco Chanel, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Marcel Proust.
White, who likes to cultivate a bit of mystery and suspense around his series, gave cryptic clues about the location of Season 4 in the “after the episode” clip that aired on HBO following the Season 3 finale. “For the fourth season, I want to move away a little bit from the crashing waves of vernacular rocks,” he teased. “But there is always room for more murders at White Lotus hotels.” Places with rocky beaches on the French Riviera include Monaco and Nice.
As in other seasons featuring wealthy Americans vacationing in idyllic resorts and mingling with local characters, Season 4 will likely feature French talent alongside American actors. Although the cast is generally different from season to season, some characters return, such as Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge), Greg (Jon Gries), and Belinda (Natasha Rothwell). It would certainly be fun to see Charlotte LeBon, the French-Canadian actress who plays Chloe, return in season 4.
