Mike White’s award-winning mystery comedy The White Lotus is gearing up for another instalment, with HBO officially confirming the series will return for season three. The announcement comes midway through the TV phenomenon’s second season, which has seen seven episodes go to air so far. As for who and what to expect from the new iteration, White and HBO have confirmed it will be more of the same.
As per the first two seasons of The White Lotus, season three will follow a new assortment of guests and workers at the foreboding establishment. Season one was set in Hawaii and received a whopping 20 Emmy nominations across 13 categories, securing a monster 10 wins, the most of any program this year. For season two, creator Mike White set his sights on a slightly different setting, reprising the hotel stay in an exclusive Sicillian resort. No location has been confirmed yet for the third season.
For HBO and local distributor BINGE, The White Lotus has proven to be a runaway hit, seemingly arriving out of nowhere. The show follows the guests and employees of the fictional luxury hotel chain, who each harbour secrets and fantasies that slowly bubble to the surface. From the moment it aired, the series was an instant success, garnering enormous critical and audience acclaim, so it’s little wonder HBO is so keen on keeping the train rolling.
The White Lotus season2 | Image: Binge
“Reflecting on The White Lotus’ humble, run-and-gun origin as a contained pandemic production, it’s impossible not to be awestruck by how Mike orchestrated one of the buzziest and most critically acclaimed shows,” Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of HBO Programming and head of HBO drama series and films said. “And yet, he’s only continued to reach new heights in season 2, which is the ultimate testament to Mike’s raw, unparalleled vision. His courage to explore the uncharted waters of the human psyche, paired with his signature irreverent humour and buoyant directing style, have us all dreaming of more vacation days at the resort we’ve come to adore. We couldn’t be more thrilled to get the chance to collaborate on a third season together.”
Creator, writer and director Mike White famously came up with the idea for the series during the pandemic, in an attempt to use the downtime as a little inspiration. Now, he’s fronting one of the biggest television franchises in recent memory, with a third iteration set to secure him a serious payday.
‘The White Lotus’ season one | Image: HBO
“There’s no place I’d rather work than HBO and there’s no people I’d rather partner with than Casey Bloys, Francesca Orsi, Nora Skinner and their incredible team,” White said. “I feel so lucky to get this opportunity again and am excited to reunite with my amazingly talented collaborators on The White Lotus.”
There is no official word yet on when The White Lotus season three will premiere, however, the final for season two is set to hit the screen on 12 December. You can watch the series exclusively in Australia through streaming service BINGE.
