Mike White is still in the middle of writing the much-anticipated White Lotus season 4, but Variety has learned that the hit anthology will be filmed at a 19th-century palace-turned-luxury hotel called Château de la Messardière in Saint-Tropez on the Cote d’Azur.
Set on 32 acres of parasol pine, cypress trees and jasmine, Château de la Mésardière is part of the Ayre Collection, a five-star hotel group owned by Stéphane Courbit, founder and chairman of the Banijay Group (Survivor, Peaky Blinders). HBO has not commented.
Suites at this luxury hotel range from $3,000 to $8,000 (or more) per night, and the hotel includes a spa, beach access via Rolls-Royce transportation, restaurant, sports activities, and children’s camp.
Variety also reported that filming for Season 4 will begin at the end of April and continue until the end of October. As with other seasons, White is careful to create unique backdrops that combine a variety of venues, so this season is never filmed entirely on a single property. As such, La Mesardière Chateau is one of several locations where HBO productions take place. The story unfolds along the Cote d’Azur, with some scenes also filmed in hotels in Paris.
HBO has confirmed that it will once again follow a group of hotel guests and employees over the course of a week, and while the plot is being kept a closely guarded secret, sources say the Cannes Film Festival could be part of the storyline. That certainly sounds plausible considering the show focuses on the Riviera during the festival, which runs from May 13th to 26th.
Casting for season 4 is underway, with a number of French actors auditioning. As Variety reported last month, Alexander Ludwig (Earth Abyss, Vikings) and AJ Michalka (The Goldbergs, Super 8) are the first new cast members announced for the show. So far, only three cast members have appeared in multiple seasons. Jennifer Coolidge played Tanya McQuoid in seasons 1 and 2. Natasha Rothwell played Belinda Lindsay in seasons 1 and 3. and John Gries, who played Greg Hunt for all three seasons.
Season 3, set in Thailand, also stars Walton Goggins, Michelle Monaghan, Carrie Coon, Sam Rockwell, Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, Amy Lou Wood, Sam Nivola and Patrick Schwarzenegger, and received eight acting Emmy nominations. “The White Lotus” will be executive produced by White, David Barnardo and Mark Kamain.
