The White Lotus’ Season 4 Hotel Location and Cost Has Been Revealed

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The White Lotusis ready to check in for season four.

Just two months after announcing a fourth season set in France, the HBO show created by Mike White has chosen the Château de la Messardière in Saint-Tropez as its main filming location, several news sources report.

Originally built as a palace in the 1800s, the building became a high-end hotel in the 1920s. Today, it’s part of the prestigious Airelles Collection hotel group. The owner of Airelles Collection, Stéphane Courbit, also founded and leads Banijay Group, the company that produces popular shows like Survivor. Mike will be returning for the show’s 50th season.

The Château de la Messardière is a luxurious hotel located just back from the French Riviera. It features a spa, several restaurants, and its own private beach. Room rates vary depending on the time of year, starting around $1,300 per night when it opens in April and rising to over $12,000 per night during the peak of summer.

TopMob News has reached out to HBO for comment but has not heard back.

HBO has been secretive about the next season of The White Lotus, but they recently announced that actors Alexander Ludwig, known from The Hunger Games, and AJ Michalka—one half of the musical duo Aly & AJ—will be joining the cast.

Will any familiar faces return to The White Lotus? While Jennifer Coolidge (as Tanya McQuoid) and Natasha Rothwell (as Belinda Lindsey) have been in several seasons, Parker Posey—who played Victoria Ratliff in season three—doesn’t expect to be back.

As the Dazed and Confused actress told TopMob in September, “I have no idea if I’m in it.”

Meanwhile, Jon Gries has said that his three-season arc as Tanya’s husband Greg Hunt may be over.

After the third season concluded with Gary’s secret still hidden, he told The Hollywood Reporter that he doesn’t plan to return, but isn’t entirely sure. He added that he always considers each departure to be permanent.

Read on to learn everything we know so far about The White Lotus’ fourth season. 

HBO announced in January 2025 that The White Lotus will return for a fourth season. The renewal came several weeks before the third season even aired, and followed a pitch from the show’s creator, Mike White, outlining more stories of wealth, mystery, and trouble.

HBO CEO Casey Bloys stated in November that if Mike wants to continue with all four seasons, the fourth season will happen.

Production on season four will likely kick off in 2026, according to Variety.

HBO announced in December that filming would take place in France, and in January, several sources confirmed the main location: the Château de la Messardière in Saint-Tropez. This 19th-century palace is now a luxurious hotel.

Before the announcement was made, actress Parker Posey, who previously appeared in the series, told TopMob News that the cast of The White Lotus was planning to film in France.

White and fellow producers had been dropping hints, too.

HBO Programming executive Francesca Orsi told Deadline in February that they’ll be scouting locations over the next few weeks to determine where to film. While she wouldn’t reveal specifics, she indicated the likely location is somewhere in Europe.

Chances, she emphasized.

Orsi explained that while they’ve discussed potential filming locations in certain countries, they haven’t begun scouting those places yet, so there’s no news to share at this time.

After the season three finale aired on April 6th, White told HBO he wanted to move away from the show’s previously intense and dramatic style – which he described as ‘crashing waves against rocks’ – in the next season.

“But,” he added, “there’s always room for more murders at the White Lotus hotels.”

During the Vivid Festival in Sydney in June 2023, White shared that Australia is a place he’s always dreamed of visiting.

He said it sounded like a lot of fun, noting the incredible talent and obvious beauty made it seem like a perfect fit.

In December 2025, HBO announced that Alexander Ludwig, known for his role in The Hunger Games, and AJ Michalka of Aly & AJ, would be joining the cast. Given that both actors have previously released music albums, their characters might also have musical abilities.

Emmy-winning composer Cristóbal Tapia de Veer, known for the music of The White Lotus, won’t be returning for the fourth season. He says this is due to creative differences with the show’s creator, Mike White, which began during the first season.

Tapia de Veer explained to the New York Times that a few months prior, he’d informed the team he wouldn’t be returning. He chose not to tell Mike Flanagan directly, wanting to deliver the news at the very end as a surprise. However, Flanagan did find out before the season concluded.

Composer Tapia de Veer described the journey to creating the memorable theme music for the first season (which also opened the second) as difficult. Despite its eventual success, he explained that White initially didn’t want the theme at all, saying, ‘You see it afterward, and it’s a success, but to get there is quite the struggle.’

I was so surprised when they changed the opening sequence for season three! Apparently, no one even asked him to do it, he just decided to. And honestly, a lot of us fans were really upset about it.

After the change was made public, I was contacted by media outlets like TMZ, as well as people from England and France, all wanting a comment. The reaction was really strong – people were upset about the altered theme, which I found fascinating. I suggested to the producer that we eventually release the full version, including the ‘ooh-loo-loo-loos,’ because I thought fans would be shocked to discover that was where it was heading. He agreed, but Mike ultimately decided against it – he wasn’t on board with the idea.

The composer explained that they’d already had what felt like their final argument at that time, and because of it, the other person was refusing everything.

During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show on April 8th, White criticized Tapia de Veer’s decision to publicly complain, calling it a disrespectful act.

Honestly, it really hurt to see him suddenly talking to the press about leaving the show after the fact. It felt like a complete lack of respect, and I’m now finding out more about his perspective through these interviews, which feels a bit late. It’s tough when a professional relationship ends and you don’t feel valued, you know? It’s something I’ve definitely had to navigate in my career, and it’s never easy.

The producer explained they didn’t actually have a real conflict. Despite claims of a feud, it was mostly just him receiving feedback from me.

According to White, their working relationship was successful for the first two seasons because they freely exchanged ideas. However, by the third season, Tapia de Veer no longer wanted to collaborate—he didn’t want White’s input or to participate in recording sessions with him.

And, White added, “He’s definitely making a big deal out of just a creative difference.”

Jennifer Coolidge was happily surprised that Jon Gries, who played both Tanya’s love interests – the enigmatic Greg in season one and her husband in season two – was willing to return for season three as the villainous widower, Gary. However, Gries has indicated that, as far as he’s aware, his character’s romantic storyline is finished.

However, that’s what he thought last time.

He told The Hollywood Reporter that he doesn’t plan on returning to the show, though he isn’t completely sure. After the season three finale—where Gary’s secret remained hidden—he added that he always expects it to be his last time when he finishes working on the show.

Despite the attractive idea of a completely fresh cast each season – as White joked to The New Yorker, imagining being able to “burn down the house” and start over – the show has demonstrated that as long as a character isn’t actually dead…

Mike White consistently keeps people guessing with his creative choices,” said actor Jeremy Allen White to The Hollywood Reporter. “I didn’t expect to be back for season two, and the same was true for season three. He always adds unexpected twists. I’d definitely be interested in returning, but I’m not sure if my character, Greg, has finished his story arc.”

Unless the show creates a prequel story or explores alternate universes, it’s unlikely Jennifer Coolidge will reprise her role as Tanya except through flashbacks or dream sequences. Despite her character’s death in the season two finale – revealed as the mystery body from the opening scene – fans have still held out hope for her return, especially considering she was the only character to appear in both seasons.

White has acknowledged feeling the loss of Coolidge, but understands why he chose to eliminate Tanya, despite her good intentions and naiveté, as well as her immense wealth.

Coolidge described White as someone who stands by his choices, speaking on TopMob News in January 2023 after the season finale. She said he’s a great friend, but ultimately decided on a dramatic and over-the-top ending for The White Lotus 2, choosing to have Tanya’s character sacrificed.

She confirmed to The New Yorker that she wouldn’t be returning for the third season, filmed in Thailand, stating, “I don’t think Tanya’s ever coming back, so I have to accept that.”

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2026-01-10 04:48