WhileThe White Lotushas already visited several unique locations, it will never set foot in a significant portion of the world. The dark HBO comedy is an anthology series that focuses on a hotel chain, so each season takes place in a different part of the world. Season 1 took place in Hawaii, season 2 in Sicily, and season 3 in Thailand.The White Lotusseason 4has already been confirmed, but its exact location has not yet been named. There has been speculation that the next set of episodes could take place in a colder environment.
That colder setting is unlikely to come to pass. While appearing onThe Bill Simmons Podcast, executive producer David Bernad admitted that they would likely never visit cold regions. Though “every hotel is offering to fly us” to visit different settings,White LotuscreatorMike White has no interest in visiting any cold location. Bernad admits that he would “never say never,” but it is highly unlikely that White would ever allow it. Check out his quote below (viaThe Direct):
By the way, Mike [White] does not like the cold, that is why we will never do it. I feel confident we will never do a season in the cold…Mike is not for it. He is a California guy. He is not built for the cold. Never say never, but I would be surprised. I think one of the best parts of my job now is hotels are calling me. I get the run-off. Mike says, ‘No’… I am telling you every hotel is offering to fly us to see the hotel.
What The Location Restriction Means For The White Lotus
Many Options Are Officially Off The Table
The White Lotusis all about showing off stunning locations, but these restrictions mean that a significant portion of the world is entirely off the table. Any skiing destination, northern location, or windy port city is likely to meet an immediate no from Mike White. Therefore, viewers calling for a season to be set in Colorado, Greenland, or Canada willneed to reset expectationsto better match what the show is likely to deliver. If the creator has no interest in spending months in the snow, no one can truly force him to.
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This does make predictions far more simple, of course. Anyone looking to anticipate the next season’s central location couldstart picking out unique and warm vacation destinationsthat the show has not already touched on. Given White’s preferences, a trip to Miami, the Maldives, or even New Zealand is not entirely out of the picture. This restriction likely means that the settings will all see some key similarities, as White seems to prefer locations that are both warm and connected to a shoreline.
Our Take On The White Lotus' Location Restrictions
It Is A Disservice To The Show
It is difficult to blame White for not wanting to spend months in a location that he may very well despise. Filming would be much more difficult in cold weather, as the cast would need to cope with freezing temperatures and bitter shoots. Still,many people love cold destinations, so it would be better if the show reflected that. Similarly, a cooler setting would mean providing a much-needed change of pace for a franchise that could grow stale relatively quickly. White may not wantThe White Lotusto visit cold spaces, but it would make for a unique story.
Based on a statement from HBO executive Francesca Orsi in February 2025, it seemsThe White Lotusseason 4’s location might be somewhere in Europe.
However, Bernad’s statement does confirm that thecharacters inThe White Lotuswon’t be going anywhere frigid, despite the various story opportunities such a contrasting environment would bring to the table. At the same time, however, White’s personal preferences may also align with the purposeful presentation of lavish hotels in warm climates. The hotter settings of every season so far seem to be on purpose,offering a familiar feeling to every new batch of episodesdespite the changing characters and storylines.
As of writing,The White Lotusseason 4 has not started filming yet.
Based on a statement from HBO executive Francesca Orsi in February 2025, it seemsThe White Lotusseason 4’s locationmight be somewhere in Europe. This would align with White’s preferences while keeping the motifs of every location similar. Although it would be interesting to see new resorts in colder climates,the in-universe company having locations only in warmer countries would make sense. It would offer familiar yet different experiences for its guests, and, by extension, the audience. Yet it also means axing intriguing stories that could have offered unique premises in future seasons.
What Would The White Lotus Be Like In A Colder Climate?
There Would Be Some Notable Differences
IfThe White Lotus' storywere to be set in a colder climate, the show could utilize different strategies to make it stand out from previous seasons.The difference in weather could be applied to the story, especially if there are characters who become sick of the climate. While the fancier elements might not have the same flair to them as other seasons do, a season set in somewhere like Maine or Norway could use its temperature to its advantage. This could make for a unique presentation that feels unlike any other season that came before it.
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Although it’s disappointing thatThe White Lotusprobably isn’t going to colder locations, it still means many warm places around the world will be highlighted in later seasons. The show’s early renewal for season 4 proves it’s become a mainstay for HBO, meaning there will still be a variety of interesting places for new stories. Depending on how long the show goes on for, White may even change his mind and brave the cold, something that truly would help expand the series beyond its current boundaries.
New episodes ofThe White Lotusseason 3 air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.
