Ever since the third season of HBO's The White Lotus came to its grisly end, our brains have been whirring with ideas around who might be cast in season four, and which luxury location they'll be destined for next. Who will survive this new season? Will evil Greg be there? Who from previous seasons' casts will make their surprise return? And most importantly, what will they all be wearing?
While we've known for several months that season four will see us transported to France, but now there are specifics around where in this stunning country we'll be holidaying – and some very unexpected twists.
There have been some exciting names to joining the cast list for the newest season, and now we've added one more – Sandra Bernhard. The character actor who has been a go-to for short but impactful television roles for decades is now set to head for the French Riviera. Here's what we know.
Who is in The White Lotus season 4 cast?
The latest cast announcement is in. Deadline has confirmed veteran character actor Sandra Bernhard is joining season four's ensemble. She's most recently known for her work on Marty Supreme, Severance and Pose. But many will also remember her from her impact in shows like The L Word, American Horror Story and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Another recent confirmed traveller is American model Marissa Long, according to a Deadline report from earlier today. We've also had confirmation on that rumour that actor Chris Messina was circling a role in the upcoming season (he's officially headed to France). You might recognise him from The Mindy Project, Sharp Objects or Julie & Julia). And also officially confirmed is the ever-iconic Helena Bonham Carter, who was also rumoured to be joining the cast for a while now.
Long will be joining recent additions comedian Steve Coogan and Australian actor Caleb Jonte Edwards en route to France. Coogan has a storied career as an actor, comedian and writer, and is best known for his role as the socially awkward presenter Alan Partridge. Edwards, on the other hand, is newer to the industry, having cut his teeth in Stan's Black Snow in 2025.
They'll be joined by The Hunger Games alum Alexander Ludwig (yep, he was Cato) and Aly & AJ’s own AJ Michalka, who were the first actors to sign onto the project. Seeing as both have musical prowess, perhaps their characters might also lean into some sonic performances this season?
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As for Greg (or is it Gary now?) aka Jon Gries making another season return – the jury is still out. Gries himself told The Hollywood Reporter after season 3 premiered: "I don’t think [I'm coming back], but I don’t know so. All I can say is, every time I leave, I assume it’s over."
"There’s no trying to predict anything Mike White does," Gries continued. "I never presumed I’d be in season two. Same for season three. Everything he does has an element of surprise to it. Yes, I would love to come back. But does the book on Greg seem like it’s complete? I can’t tell you."
It seems we'll still have to wait a little longer to get confirmation on the rest of the season 4 cast – but with an April shoot date, it's likely that the cast have been confirmed by production and will be announced in the coming months.
We're still hopeful that White's longtime friend Laura Dern might make an appearance this season (though real fans of The White Lotus know that Dern actually lent her voice to a character in series two: she played Abby Di Grasso, the estranged wife of White Lotus guest Dominic Di Grasso on the phone. It's exactly the kind of full-circle Easter Egg moment we think White might pull this season.
Where is The White Lotus season 4 set?
Season 4 is confirmed to be set in the French Riviera, largely set at the Château de la Messardière in Saint-Tropez, France. The location was confirmed by creator Mike White in an interview with Variety on 9 January 2026.
Variety also confirmed that "As with other seasons, this one will not shoot entirely in a single property as White is meticulous about crafting unique backdrops that combine different venues. As such, the Château de La Messardière is one of several places that will host the HBO production." There has been speculation about a pit-stop in Paris during this season too.
The move marks the show's second European destination after season 2's Sicilian romp at the Four Seasons San Domenico Palace, Taormina.
What will it be about?
HBO confirmed that season 4 will follow a similar format to its predecessors, saying in a statement it will “follow a new group of White Lotus hotel guests and employees over the span of a week.”
But according to Variety, sources say that the Cannes Film Festival could be part of the storyline. Considering the show's filming schedule will run parallel to the festival's 2026 dates (13-26 May 2026), this plot point certainly seems possible.
In an After the Episode segment following the season 3 finale in April last year, White himself commented that: “For the fourth season, I want to get a little bit out of the crashing waves of rocks vernacular. But there’s always more room for more murders at the White Lotus hotels.”
What do we know about the hotel?
The palace-turned-luxury hotel is perched on 32 acres of parasol pines, cypress trees, and sweet-smelling jasmine, and looks straight out over the bay of Saint-Tropez. It’s part of the Airelles Collection today, but its story starts in the 19th century, when a cognac merchant named Gabriel Dupuy d’Angeac built it as a lavish wedding gift for his daughter, Louise.
After her husband passed away, Louise reinvented the château in the 1920s, turning it into a hotel that quickly became a magnet for wealthy Parisians in search of sun-soaked Mediterranean glamour. The years weren’t always kind to the property – it eventually slipped into disrepair – but a major restoration in 1989 brought it back to life, restoring its reputation as one of the Côte d’Azur’s most exclusive hideaways.
These days, rooms go for anywhere between $3,000 and $8,000 a night, and that price tag comes with plenty of perks: a luxe spa, multiple restaurants, sports facilities, and even private beach access – complete with a Rolls-Royce transfer.
When will filming start?
White confirmed to Variety that filming will begin at the end of April 2026, continuing through October 2026.
When will it be released?
Doing some quick maths here – if filming is scheduled to be finished in October of this year, and with the need for at least a few months of post-production by HBO, we're thinking season 4 is most likely slated for a 2027 release at the earliest.
Production on season 3 lasted for close to a year, meaning it might not wrap until April 2027, with a potential mid-2027 release date on HBO Max.
We'll keep you updated as we hear official word.
Feature image: Sandra Bernhard
