The White Lotus season 3 theories have been circulating ever since the climactic finale of season 2, and it looks like fans' main supposition – that the show will be filmed in Thailand – is correct, according to Variety. Although HBO have yet to confirm this, the show's creator, Mike White, dropped a pretty big clue back in January when he shared a video to Instagram, revealing that he was in Thailand. This led many to believe that he may just be scoping out the location for season 3.
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The actor and director has also previously hinted that the next series of The White Lotus could take place in Asia. He told Deadline: “It’s hard to think about the next race… But if we did, I think it’d be fun to maybe go to a whole different continent. You know, we did Europe, and maybe Asia, something crazy like that, that would be fun.”
We knew it!
And in a YouTube clip from HBO entitled Unpacking S2 E7, he added: “The first season kind of highlighted money, and then the second season is sex. I think the third season would be maybe a satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality. It feels like it could be a rich tapestry to do another round at White Lotus.”
Of course, social media has gone wild since Mike made his location reveal (true or not). “Mike White is in Thailand… so White Lotus: Koh Samui? #WhiteLotus,” one fan tweeted. Evan himself even tweeted: “Not Mike all but confirming WHITE LOTUS: THAILAND in this video lol.”
It’s time to channel your inner Daphne.
While many have taken Mike's video as confirmation, there are still other theories about the next location of the show. On TikTok, users have suggested that there was a hint about the next series in the finale of season 2. In one scene, Daphne says: “See you in the Maldives!” and her husband adds: “Less pasta, more scuba.” Intriguing.
Which Thailand hotel could feature in The White Lotus season 3?
Yes, yes, yes, we know haven't received any official confirmation from HBO yet, BUT, that hasn't stopped us doing a bit of location shopping ourselves. Since Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii and Italy have previously been used as the setting for the fictional White Lotus brand, it's a pretty safe bet that the next season isn't about to feature a Travel Lodge. So, we're assuming that White and his team are touring the company’s four five-star hotels in Thailand—in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, and the Golden Triangle.
Here is our totally arbitrary but nevertheless valid (we think) pick of the hotels that could feature in the next season.
Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Muang Krabi
We're pretty sure that even the high-end jet setters who favour The White Lotus resorts would be happy with this Uber-luxe resort on the shores of the Andaman Sea. Near Phi Phi Island, Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve mixes local nature and culture, offering its guests yoga on the beach, hiking trips up Krabi's majestic Dragon Crest Mountain and private dinners with ocean views. We can only imagine the type of scandal that could take place here, with the individual villa bedrooms dotted across the resort, the thick jungle and, as is always a theme at The White Lotus, an untameable body of water.
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Four Seasons Resort, Koh Samui
The White Lotus season 1 was filmed at the Four Seasons in Maui, so it stands to reason that White and the team might be looking around another property from the prestigious hotel group to help them bring this next season to life (or death, as the case is likely to be). Here, pristine sandy beaches stretch for miles, bordered by tropical greenery and calm blue seas, with the option of relaxing here, by the infinity pool with a cool drink, or relaxing on your private deck overlooking the idyllic Gulf of Siam. We can already picture Tanya’s (Jennifer Coolidge) husband (boo, hiss) Greg (Jon Gries) spending some of his (SPOILER) dead wife’s fortune on one of the secluded getaway’s villas or private residences with pools here - perhaps with a new love interest in tow.
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Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
Or perhaps, to mix it up, White will opt for a different feel altogether, and go for a city hotel in the middle of bustling Bangkok (and if The Hangover is anything to go by, we all know just how much can down here). Like the Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental is a world-renowned, luxury hotel group with properties dotted across the globe, and their Bangkok offering is opulent beyond belief. The hotel prides itself on being a “haven of calm” on the banks of the river, only reopening its River Wing recently, following the largest renovation in its 146-year history (so they might be keen to show it off… say on a hit HBO show). This stunning transformation has further enhanced the accommodations and facilities in the iconic hotel, while maintaining our classic, Thai-influenced elegance and unique resort style.
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In the meantime, we'll await confirmation from HBO, but until then, White Lotus: Thailand does have a nice ring to it.
