It's good news for anyone (that is, everyone) who's fallen under the spell of The White Lotus, Mike White's juicy satire of rich people behaving badly: the show will be back for a third season—and the first teaser trailer has just been released. The next instalment was previewed as part of a wider compilation trailer teasing everything that's coming to HBO Max in 2025 (watch above), alongside shows such as And Just Like That and Hacks. The teaser features new castmembers including Parker Posey, Carrie Coon and Leslie Bibb. Blackpink star Lalisa 'Lisa' Manobal, can also be seen making her acting debut and welcoming guests to The White Lotus in Thailand. 'The White Lotus' season one. Courtesy HBO "It's going to be a supersized White Lotus," White previously told Entertainment Weekly. "It's going to be longer, bigger, crazier. I don't know what people will think, but I am super excited, so at least for my own barometer, that’s a good thing." Joining recurring cast member Natasha Rothwell—who played spa therapist Belinda in season one—will be notable names including Jason Isaacs and Michelle Monaghan. It's also been confirmed that Sex Education star Aimee Lou Wood will be appearing, alongside Walton Goggins, Sarah Catherine Hook, Sam Nivola (of recent blockbuster hit, Maestro) and Patrick Schwarzenegger. Scroll down to see news of the casting in more detail... 'The White Lotus' season two. Courtesy: HBO So, what do we know so far about season three? From the themes to the plot and the location, here's all the inside information we have... Are there any clues to the plot for The White Lotus season three? Towards the end of season two, the show's creator Mike White dropped some major hints about the next season's themes. "The first season kind of highlighted money, and then the second season is sex," he said, "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." 'The White Lotus' season two. Courtesy: Fabio Lovino/HBO Death is, of course, a connecting thread throughout all series of the show. From the first season's Hawaii setting to the last's sex-drenched Sicilian escape, a mysterious dead body has acted as the hook for each narrative arc—the impetus becoming not only a whodunnit but a who-they-done-in. These have ranged from the ill-fated Armond (played with delectable relish by Murray Bartlett) to the grand-dame of the show herself, Tanya McQuoid-Hunt (Jennifer Coolidge) who met her untimely demise in the season two finale, at the accidental hands of "some very high-end gays". Even Coolidge's high-profile exit was subtly sign-posted at the end of season one, when she says to her future-husband Greg: "I’ve had every kind of treatment over the years. Death is the last immersive experience I haven’t tried." It was the moment, according to White, in which he decided to kill off his favourite character. Jennifer Coolidge as Tanya McQuoid-Hunt. Courtesy: Fabio LovinoWho will star in The White Lotus season three? Plenty of new roles have been cast for season three—nine of them series regulars—among them, "a patriarch, a corporate executive, an actress, a couple of mothers, a misfit and a yogi". We now know that the following new stars will be heading to the hotel: Sex Education's Aimee Lou Wood, Walton Goggins, Sarah Catherine Hook, Sam Nivola (of recent blockbuster hit, Maestro), Patrick Schwarzenegger, Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon (of HBO's The Gilded Age), Dom Hetrakul, Harry Potter alumni Jason Isaacs, Mission Impossible actress Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey, Tayme Thapthimthong, Miloš Biković, Christian Friedel, Morgana O’Reilly, Lek Patravadi, and Shalini Peiris. Blackpink star Lalisa Manobal, otherwise known as 'Lisa', will also be making her small screen debut. While Coolidge's Tanya was previously the only White Lotus recurring character, Natasha Rothwell, who played the fan-favourite spa manager Belinda Lindsey in the first series—and was Emmy-nominated for her role—will be back. In season one, Belinda was let down by wealthy resort guest Tanya, who had promised to support Belinda's dreams of opening her own spa practice, but ultimately withdrew her offer. Season three's focus on spirituality will likely chime well with Belinda's wellness expertise. Natasha Rothwell and Jennifer Coolidge as Belinda and Tanya in season one. Courtesy: HBO "My heart is full! Words cannot even begin to express how excited, grateful and humbled I am to have the chance to breathe life into Belinda once again," Rothwell wrote on Instagram. "Thank you for the outpouring of love and support today. I am overwhelmed, overjoyed and over the fucking moon!" "I gasped out loud a minimum of five times and this was just me reading (the scripts)," Rothwell told Vanity Fair. "The scripts are a testament to (creator) Mike (White)'s skill and ability to tell the most smart and entertaining stories. I mean, everything that he does is like a lesson to me as an actor and a performer. And as a writer myself, he takes folks on a journey. Everyone needs to buckle up, because it's going to get real!" 'The White Lotus' season one. Courtesy: HBO Rothwell isn't the only cast member to be excited about the forthcoming series. "I am over the moon," Bibb wrote on Instagram after the casting announcement. "I can't wipe the satisfied grin off my face." Monaghan added: "Words cannot express how grateful and excited I am to be a part of this epic show! It’s a dream come true to get to work with Mike White @hbo. Thank you @thewhitelotus for what I know will be an experience of a lifetime!" 'The White Lotus' season one. Courtesy HBO//HBOWhere will The White Lotus season three be filmed? It was a location announcement almost as breathlessly awaited as that of the host country for the next Olympics. This season of The White Lotus is set in Thailand, with filming based in Koh Samui, Phuket and Bangkok. As for a more exact filming location, if season three follows the template set by its predecessor, we can safely assume that the show will be filmed at a Four Seasons resort; the luxury hotel chain's Maui and Taormina hotels provided the sets for the first two seasons. The brand has several enclaves in Thailand, including one in Koh Samui and Bangkok. 'The White Lotus' season two. Courtesy HBOIs there a release date for The White Lotus season three? Due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, production was delayed to early February 2024, with the series slated to air in 2025. No exact date has yet been confirmed. Whatever happens next, there is one thing we can guarantee: we will all be watching... Lead image: Also read: Stay in hotels featured on TV and in film, from 'The White Lotus' to 'Palm Royale' Also read: Artworks as witnesses and an assemblage of shifting relationships—‘The White Lotus’ season two finale delivered a fitting arrivederci
