"The White Lotus," HBO's satirical dramedy, has been officially renewed for Season 4, promising another installment of luxury, dysfunction, and potential murder. While details remain largely under wraps, here's a breakdown of what we know so far.

Renewal and Production Timeline

HBO confirmed the fourth season in January 2025, ahead of Season 3's premiere. Creator Mike White has already pitched a general outline and is in the location-scouting phase. Filming is expected to take several months once production begins. Given the production timeline of previous seasons, Season 4 is likely to air in late 2026 or sometime in 2027. The gap between seasons 2 and 3 was roughly two and a half years, in part due to the writers' strike.

Setting Speculation

The location for Season 4 is yet to be confirmed. However, Francesca Orsi, HBO's head of drama, hinted at a European setting. This would mark a return to the continent after Season 2's Sicilian setting. Despite rumors of a Norwegian setting fueled by a grant application to the Norwegian Film Institute, this seems unlikely as there is no Four Seasons resort in Norway. The show has filmed at Four Seasons properties in Maui, Sicily and Thailand. Other potential locations include Egypt and Mexico, which both have Four Seasons resorts. However, the production team wants to pick a location they haven't shot yet, on a new continent. Creator Mike White wants to move away from beach locations. Producer David Bernad has said that Mike White doesn't like the cold, making a ski resort unlikely. Morocco and Tanzania are also rumored to be in consideration.

Cast and Characters

No cast members have been officially announced for Season 4. The series typically features a fresh group of vacationers and staff. However, Mike White has been known to bring back familiar faces. Natasha Rothwell as Belinda, the spa manager, and Jon Gries as Greg, Tanya's husband, have both appeared in multiple seasons. There is a possibility that Belinda and her son Zion could return. Mike White has expressed interest in doing an all-star season with returning cast members. Fan suggestions for new cast members include Catherine O'Hara, Stanley Tucci, Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri, Steven Yeun, Lisa Kudrow, Constance Wu, and Toni Collette.

Plot and Themes

Specific plot details for Season 4 are still unknown. However, the season will likely follow the established "White Lotus" formula. A body is discovered, and the story flashes back to the days leading up to the event, following the guests and staff. The series will likely continue to explore themes of wealth, privilege, cultural clashes, and the dark side of paradise, all wrapped in Mike White's signature satire and dark comedy. Season 4 will explore a new theme, as previous seasons have been centered around greed, lust and religion.

Other Details

Cristóbal Tapia de Veer, the composer for the first three seasons, will not be returning for Season 4 due to creative differences with Mike White. Mike White wants to "get a little bit out of the 'crashing waves against rocks' vernacular".