The finer details of the plot are still being kept under wraps, aside from confirmation that there will be a new group of guests at the White Lotus resort. However, it appears we are once again in for a treat with multiple twists. Natasha Rothwell told Vanity Fair at the LA premiere of Wonka, last December: “I gasped out loud a minimum of five times, and this was just me reading them. The scripts are a testament to Mike’s skill and ability to tell the most smart and entertaining stories.” She continued, with a warning to viewers: “Everyone needs to buckle up, because it’s going to get real!”
The cast?
The first cast members announced for the third instalment were named by Variety. Newbies include Leslie Bibb, Dom Hetrakul, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey and Tayme Thapthimthong.
The next wave of new cast members to be announced were Miloš Biković, Christian Friedel, Morgana O’Reilly, Lek Patravadi, Shalini Peiris, Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Sarah Catherine Hook, Sam Nivola, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Aimee Lou Wood, Francesca Corney, Nicholas Duvernay and Arnas Fedaravičius.
These new additions will join Rothwell, who will reprise her season one role as beloved spa manager Belinda Lindsey. In the season, she was infamously led on by guest and potential investor Tanya McQuioid (Coolidge).The news of her reprisal came in April 2023 when multiple sources confirmed to Variety.
Upon the announcement, Rothwell shared the news in a retweet, saying: “Belinda is back baby!”
Belinda is back baby!!! 😎😎😎 https://t.co/U3F5Q3uDwX
— Natasha Rothwell (@natasharothwell) April 19, 2023
Despite a plethora of new talent, the beloved Coolidge has confirmed that she will not be back for a third season. McQuoid memorably met her demise in the season two finale after she, in self-defence, massacred a boat of gay men.
In the season two finale, a group of “evil gays” plotted to kill Coolidge’s fan-favourite character for her money. After managing to take a few of them out, McQuoid fell off a yacht, knocked her head on a dinghy and proceeded to drown to death in the Ionian Sea.
The pop icon referenced the now-iconic scene when accepting her second Primetime Emmy Award by thanking “all the evil gays”.
At the ceremony, Coolidge also thanked The White Lotus creator Mike White and confirmed that, sadly, McQuoid will not be resurrected for the third season: “He said I’m definitely dead so I am going along with it.”
Where can I watch season 3?
Production will start in and around Koh Samui, Phuket and Bangkok in February 2024.
HBO announced via Deadline: “The White Lotus season, that was going to be 2024 and that’s likely moving into 2025.” The pushback of fate was due to SAG-AFTRA strikes.
The White Lotus seasons 1 and 2 are available in the UK on Now TV