After taking up Hawaii and Italy within the first two entries of “The White Lotus,” the anthology sequence’ creator Mike White believes his newest journey in Thailand ups the ante.
“I do really feel like the opposite seasons have been a rehearsal for this one,” White stated in a current interview with TIME. “There’s stuff that I’ve by no means directed earlier than.”
White additionally shared that he drew on his personal life and experiences to conceive Season 3. Initially, White wished to shoot in Japan, however after HBO instructed Thailand, he took a visit to scout places and ended up being hospitalized with a case of extreme bronchitis. As dire because the circumstance was, White was nonetheless capable of finding inspiration by way of the haze.
“I didn’t sleep for like two nights,” he stated, “and by the subsequent morning I used to be like, ‘I believe I’ve the plot.’ The season is just about what occurred that night time.”
Whereas usually, White considers discovering the ending to his tales “the toughest half,” the delirium introduced on by his sickness and its subsequent therapy helped him attain the conclusion of Season 3 early on, permitting him to work backwards and offering confidence within the selection of Thailand because the present’s latest setting.
Along with spending time in Thailand as a contestant on “The Wonderful Race” in 2009, White additionally has a connection to the nation’s Buddhist faith and tradition. That being stated, he advised TIME that he doesn’t need individuals considering “The White Lotus” will mirror a deep understanding or authenticity.
“I had a Buddhist self-help part after I had a nervous breakdown in my 30s. I exploit Buddhist ideas as a option to form of arrange my concepts,” stated White, including later, “I don’t assume the present will ever be a nuanced model of a Thai particular person’s Buddhist expertise. I don’t really feel like I may write that. It’s actually about Individuals coming with preconceptions. You discuss to individuals … and attempt to construct out one thing that feels multidimensional and also you hope it passes the bullsh-t take a look at. As a result of that’s the character of storytelling: discovering the story, discovering the connections between all individuals — versus seeing the variations and being frightened of that.”
In relating Season 3’s themes to the precepts of reincarnation and mirror selves mirrored in Buddhism, White stated of the characters, “They’re all in some form of damage. Like, they’re all useless, however they don’t comprehend it.”
That being stated, White did share with TIME that the homicide in Season 3 will probably be handled as a end result and never be proven within the first episode because it had been prior to now. The upcoming season’s forged contains Walton Goggins, Aimee Lou Wooden, Lalisa Manobal, Parker Posey, Carrie Coon, Michelle Monaghan, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Jason Isaacs, Leslie Bibb, Natasha Rothwell, and extra. The sequence has additionally been renewed for a fourth season forward of the third’s premiere.
“The White Lotus” Season 3 premieres on February 16, 2025, airing on HBO and streaming on Max .