“The White Lotus” gave us the sinister tropical vacation we never knew we needed — and delivered some of the best performances of 2021.
“Is ‘The White Lotus’ a murder-mystery? Yes. Is it also a comedy? Absolutely,” IndieWire’s TV critic Ben Travers wrote in his review of the HBO limited series. “Does it confront the harsh truths of America’s wealth gap by studying a contained batch of subjects on either end of the ever-widening spectrum? It would be weird if I said, ‘No,’ so yup, that’s there, too.”
Murray Bartlett, Connie Britton, Alexandra Daddario, Fred Hechinger, Jake Lacy, Brittany O’Grady, Natasha Rothwell, Sydney Sweeney, and Steve Zahn led the ensemble series, with breakout star Jennifer Coolidge reminding us why she’s an icon for her performance as a grieving (and tone-deaf) elite.
Molly Shannon, Jon Gries, Jolene Purdy, Kekoa Kekumano, and Lukas Gage also guest-starred on the series. So, what’s next?
Following one heck of a twist ending, fans were already frothing for a second installment. Thankfully we didn’t have to clutch our pleated designer khakis for long, as showrunner Mike White confirmed an anthology series.
“It would have to be a different hotel, like, say, ‘The White Lotus: San Tropez’ or something,” White told TVLine. “I don’t think you can credibly have [all the Season 1 guests] on the same vacation again. But maybe it could be a Marvel universe type thing, where some of them would come back.”
Now, finally, we’re getting some answers as to which new stars will be checking in to the luxury hotel this time around. Or as HBO explained in a press statement, season two will “follow a different group of vacationers as they jet to another White Lotus property and settle in temporarily amongst its inhabitants.”
Find out everything we know about “The White Lotus” Season 2, below.
Season 3 May Take Place in Japan
Already looking ahead, series creator Mike White hinted that a third installment might include more returning Season 1 and 2 stars and take place in Japan. As for Season 2’s Sicily location, White leaned into the local culture, with 20 percent of the season’s dialogue in Italian, translated into Sicilian by White’s assistant, Chiara Nanni.
Este Haim Serves as a Music Consultant
“Licorice Pizza” and HAIM singer Este Haim serves as a music consultant for Season 2, as series creator Mike White confirmed. Haim led the cast in karaoke nights, as well as the actual tourists who eventually occupied the hotel during production too.
The White Lotus Sicily Resort Is Haunted IRL
Series creator Mike White confirmed to Vulture that the Season 2 cast had recurring nightmares about a bald man standing at the foot of their beds while filming at the Four Seasons San Domenico Palace in Sicily. The hotel was built within a renovated convent near a Greek amphitheater, but the murder mystery series had a very real supernatural element during production.
The Season Will Handle “Naughty Subversive” Sexual Politics
“The White Lotus” creator Mike White revealed to Vulture that the main conflict of Season 2 is the gender roles between lovers and friends, particularly Meghann Fahy and Aubrey Plaza’s respective frenemy characters who are jealous of one another’s husbands and bank accounts. White described the season as a “bedroom farce with teeth.”
White strayed away from dealing with “colonialism,” which he stated was the theme of the first season. “I didn’t know that I had the gumption to wade into those waters again, knowing I was going to get sniper fire from every direction,” White said. “Maybe the classic sexual politics, the naughty subversive stuff we’re getting into, will take the edge off a little bit from that.”
Aubrey Plaza Teases Season 2 Is “Totally Different”
One thing we know about “The White Lotus” creator Mike White is that he will always keep audiences guessing. “The White Lotus” Season 2 star Aubrey Plaza hinted that no one can expect what’s truly in store for the Sicily-set second season.
“I know it’s a lot to live up to, but Mike is so good about making the second season different,” Plaza told Entertainment Tonight of the Emmy-nominated series. “It’s still ‘The White Lotus,’ but now it’s in Italy, so it has a totally different vibe and so, I think people are going to be surprised.”
So buckle up for a bumpy ride of twists, turns, and more than a few titillating surprises…
Season 2 Will Premiere in October
As first revealed by Variety, the new installment in the anthology series will drop on HBO this October, a few weeks after the September 12 Primetime Emmy Awards where “The White Lotus” Season 1 is up for 20 prizes. A series of sneak peek photos were revealed on Instagram, teasing that “Sicily is lovely in October.”
First Footage
A first look at “The White Lotus” Season 2 debuted as part of an overall teaser for upcoming HBO Max shows, including “House of Dragons” and “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin.” The brief glimpse at Season 2 includes certain guest arrivals, plus Jennifer Coolidge as Tanya riding full throttle on a moped with love interest Greg (Jon Gries). A later sizzle reel teased that Sicily will be an “intoxicating” escape for the White Lotus guests.
Jon Gries Reprises His Role of Greg
Jon Gries is back as Greg! Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge) continues her romance with Greg (Gries) in Sicily after riding off into the sunset (literally) together while leaving Hawaii in Season 1.
Production Is Underway
Star Michael Imperioli shared a series of Instagram photos capturing the new White Lotus Sicily resort. Production is currently underway as of May 2.
Welcome to the White Lotus
The waterfront Four Seasons San Domenico Palace is doubling for the White Lotus Sicily.
Sabrina Impacciatore Plays the Hotel Manager
“The Passion of the Christ” star Sabrina Impacciatore is confirmed to be playing the White Lotus Sicily resort manager. Given how well that went for the Season 1 hotel staff, we can’t wait to see how Valentina fares. Impacciatore is also set to star opposite Danny Huston, Liev Schreiber, and Josh Hutcherson in Paula Ortiz’s upcoming film “Across the River and Into the Trees.”
Simona Tabasco and Beatrice Grannó Join the Cast
Simona Tabasco and Beatrice Grannó will play two local Sicilian women who hang out at the hotel. Both actresses have recently co-starred in TV series “DOC – Nelle tue mani.”
Jennifer Coolidge is back
You better believe that Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge) is taking another vacation even after a “White Lotus” murder. Variety confirmed that Coolidge is returning to lead the season, which takes place over the course of a week at a resort in Sicily.
Longtime friend and “White Lotus” creator Mike White convinced Coolidge to accept the part he wrote for her, with Coolidge recalling to Collider that White wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“I’m glad that Mike picked up that I was trying to get out of it,” Coolidge said. “He texted me one night, when I was in my bedroom in New Orleans at two in the morning, and it just said, ‘Are you afraid?’ It was Mike’s way of telling me that he knew that I was afraid and that I wasn’t going to be able to get out of it.”
Michael Imperioli Is Set to Star
“The Sopranos” alum Michael Imperioli was the first actor announced to join “The White Lotus” season two. According to HBO, Imperioli is slated to play Dominic Di Grasso, a hotel guest who takes his elderly father, Bert (F. Murray Abraham) and recent college grad son, Albie (Adam DiMarco) on vacation. While the first season took place at a Maui resort, there’s no word yet where the new “White Lotus” location is. Variety reported that the series will be set at the Four Seasons San Domenica Palace in Sicily, but HBO has yet to confirm.
Imperioli wrote on Instagram that he is “very excited to be joining Mike White and team.”
Aubrey Plaza Has Already Packed Her Bags
Aubrey Plaza is set to play Harper Stiller, who is on a tense trip with her husband.
Will Sharpe Sets His Sights on Sicily
Aubrey Plaza’s onscreen spouse, Ethan Spiller, is played by “Sherlock” star Will Sharpe.
Will Coolidge’s Tanya Have a Sidekick?
“Unpregnant”‘s Haley Lu Richardson is already an HBO staple, so it was no surprise the rising star joined “The White Lotus” season two. Yet what is suprising is her character description: Richardson is set to portray Portia, a young woman traveling with her boss…whom Deadline believes to be Coolidge’s Tanya.
Tom Hollander Goes International
Tom Hollander is slated to play Quentin, an English expat who is vacationing with his friends and his nephew.
Theo James Jetsets to Italy
“Divergent” star Theo James, who is also will appear on HBO’s “Time Traveler’s Wife,” lands on the “White Lotus” season two cast. James will play Cameron Babcock, who is vacationing with his wife. The couples vacay will be a double date alongside Plaza and Sharpe’s characters.
Meghann Fahy Gets Bold on Vacay
“The Bold Type” scene-stealer Meghann Fahy will play Daphne Babcock, the wife of Theo James’ character.
When Will Season 2 Premiere?
While there’s no premiere date announced yet, the second season seems to be underway as of January 2022 given the recent casting announcements. Now, let’s just hope that any filming in Italy (or wherever they may be) won’t get halted due to pandemic production delays. Now that would wilt any “Lotus.”
Sources:
https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/the-white-lotus-season-2-plot-cast-details/wl-3-shot/
https://www.awardsdaily.com/2022/08/03/white-lotus-season-2-to-drop-in-october/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13406094/
https://www.newsweek.com/white-lotus-season-2-cast-who-returning-season-1-jennifer-coolidge-1725866
https://tvline.com/lists/the-white-lotus-season-2-hbo-cast-release-date-trailer/
