Season 4 of The White Lotus is moving to the French Riviera, with new reports suggesting its plot will intersect with the famous Cannes Film Festival. The upcoming season will leave the Four Seasons hotel chain behind for a historic castle hotel in Saint-Tropez and is scheduled to begin filming in spring 2026.
Creator Mike White is writing the new season, which will follow a fresh group of guests and employees over a one-week stay. The first two cast members have been announced, and the story is expected to involve the glamour and drama of the international film festival circuit.
The new French location and Cannes Film Festival plot
The White Lotus Season 4 has selected France as its destination, marking the show’s first European setting since Season 2 in Sicily. The primary filming location will be the Château de la Messardière, a luxury castle hotel in Saint-Tropez. This five-star property, part of the Airelles Collection, sits on 32 acres with views of Saint-Tropez Bay. This is a notable change for the series, as the first three seasons were all filmed at Four Seasons resorts.
Filming is planned to take place between late April and October 2026. Multiple sources report that this schedule is intended to allow the production to incorporate the Cannes Film Festival into the storyline. The festival is held each May in Cannes, which is located along the same French Riviera coastline. Scenes will also be shot at a hotel in Paris and at other properties along the coast, continuing the show’s practice of using multiple venues.
Mike White hinted at the season’s artistic theme on the show’s official podcast, saying he wanted to explore subjects closer to his own world.
“I want to do something a little bit back to the first season where it’s satirizing stuff that I know about — you know, art and criticism, movies, fame and celebrity,” White said. “Like a film festival type of thing or something like that.”
New cast members and potential returning faces
Casting for the new season is underway. The first two actors confirmed to join the Season 4 cast are Alexander Ludwig and AJ Michalka. Ludwig is known for his role in Vikings, while Michalka is an actress and musician from the duo Aly & AJ.
There is also early talk of Helena Bonham Carter being in discussions for a starring role, though HBO has not commented on this. As an anthology series, The White Lotus typically features a new main cast each season, but it has brought back key characters before.
Two characters who could potentially return are Natasha Rothwell‘s spa manager Belinda and Jon Gries‘s Greg. Belinda left the resort at the end of Season 3 with a large sum of money, and Rothwell has expressed interest in exploring her character’s next steps. Jon Gries, who played Tanya’s husband Greg across three seasons, has been less certain about a return.
“I don’t think I’m coming back, but I don’t know,” Gries told The Hollywood Reporter. “All I can say is, every time I leave, I assume it’s over.”
Mike White has also mentioned he would like to assemble an “all-star” season one day, bringing back popular characters from past years, though that likely will not be for Season 4.
Behind-the-scenes changes for the new season
Fans will notice some significant changes behind the camera for Season 4. Composer Cristóbal Tapia de Veer, who created the show’s iconic, Emmy-winning theme music, will not return. He confirmed his exit was due to creative differences with Mike White, particularly over the musical direction for Season 3.
Mike White also wants to shift the show’s visual style for the France season. In a video released after the Season 3 finale, he stated a desire to move away from the established imagery of the first three seasons.
“For the fourth season, I want to get a little bit out of the ‘crashing waves against rocks’ vernacular,” White said.
Despite these changes, the core premise remains. White has confirmed that the dark comedy and mystery will continue, joking, “there’s always room for more murders at the White Lotus hotels.”
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Release information and filming schedule
Production on The White Lotus Season 4 is scheduled to begin in spring 2026, with filming expected to last about six months until October. Following the show’s recent production patterns, this timeline suggests a premiere date in late 2026 or early 2027.
The show was officially renewed for a fourth season in January 2025, weeks before Season 3 premiered. HBO’s programming chief, Casey Bloys, confirmed the France location in November 2025, noting that Mike White was in the early stages of writing.
The luxurious Château de la Messardière hotel offers suites that can cost between $3,000 and $8,000 per night, and even more during the peak summer season. The hotel features restaurants, pools, a spa, and private beach access, providing ample settings for the show’s social dramas and hidden tensions.
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