After exploring Hawaii and Italy in the first two seasons of The White Lotus, creator Mike White thinks the new season in Thailand raises the stakes.
I do feel like the other seasons were a rehearsal for this one, There’s stuff that I’ve never directed before.
White said in a recent interview with TIME.
White revealed that he drew inspiration from his own life for Season 3. Although he first considered Japan, HBO suggested Thailand. During his location scouting trip, he ended up hospitalized with severe bronchitis. Despite the tough situation, White still found creative inspiration.
Advertisement I didn’t sleep for like two nights, By the next morning I was like, ‘I think I have the plot.’ The season is pretty much what happened that night.
White said.
White usually finds it challenging to come up with story endings. However, the delirium from his illness and treatment helped him figure out Season 3’s conclusion early. This allowed him to work backward and feel confident about choosing Thailand as the show’s new setting.
In 2009, White participated in The Amazing Race as a contestant in Thailand. He also has a personal connection to the country’s Buddhist culture. However, he told TIME that he doesn’t want viewers to expect the show to reflect deep cultural understanding.
I had a Buddhist self-help phase when I had a nervous breakdown in my 30s. I use Buddhist concepts as a way to sort of organize my ideas, I don’t think the show will ever be a nuanced version of a Thai person’s Buddhist experience. I don’t feel like I could write that. It is really about Americans coming with preconceptions. You talk to people … and try to build out something that feels multidimensional and you hope it passes the bullsh-t test. Because that’s the nature of storytelling: finding the story, finding the connections between all people — as opposed to seeing the differences and being fearful of that.
White explained. He added
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When discussing the themes of Season 3 and how they connect to reincarnation and the concept of mirror selves in Buddhism, White described the characters, saying,
They’re all in some kind of hurt. Like, they’re all dead, but they don’t know it.
White also revealed to TIME that unlike previous seasons, the murder in Season 3 won’t be revealed in the first episode. The upcoming season will build toward it. The new cast includes Walton Goggins, Aimee Lou Wood, Lalisa Manobal, Parker Posey, Carrie Coon, Michelle Monaghan, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Jason Isaacs, Leslie Bibb, Natasha Rothwell, and more. Additionally, The White Lotus has already been renewed for a fourth season before the third season even airs.
The White Lotus Season 3 will premiere on February 16, 2025, airing on HBO and streaming on Max.