Variety published an exclusive this week claiming that “White Lotus,” the HBO show about modern American malaise and occasional murder in luxury hotels, would be filming in Thailand. 
 
HBO has yet to comment on the location of the third season of the show or confirm the sources cited by Variety, but the smart money is on Four Seasons. The first two series of the show were filmed in Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea in Hawaii and Four Seasons’ San Domenico Palace in Sicily.
 
Assuming they want to stay with that winning formula, there are four Four Seasons hotels in Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, the Golden Triangle, and in Bangkok. As the previous seasons were island and beach based, Four Seasons Koh Samui seems like the obvious choice. 
 
However, showrunner Mike White said at the end of season two: “I think the third season would be maybe a satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality.” This sort of theme could just as easily lend itself to the White Temple near Chiang Rai or, hope springs eternal, our very own sin city.  There is no guarantee the show will run with the same brand again, and could be set in Phuket or anywhere else plush hotels set up shop. 
 
The cast will most likely be a new ensemble considering the format of the last two seasons—and considering the only crossover character (spoilers) doesn’t end season two very well. 
 
The scuttlebutt began in January when Mike White sent a video of himself on a Thailand beach on Monday—ostensibly on vacation—to Evan Ross Kat, who Tweeted in response, “Not Mike all but confirming WHITE LOTUS: THAILAND in this video lol.” It was enough grist for this particular rumor mill, and it turned out to be true. Four Seasons was reached for comment and told BK no filming was currently ongoing.