The White Lotus Season 4’s Next Destination Is Set — Is Sydney Sweeney Back on the Guest List?
The White Lotus is packing its bags for France, with Mike White scouting Paris and the Riviera for a sun-soaked Season 4 centered in the South and likely bookended by the City of Light—even as HBO stays mum.
Pack your tiny sunglasses: it sounds like The White Lotus is heading to France next. None of this is locked by HBO yet, but the scouting breadcrumbs are piling up, and they paint a very specific picture.
So, where are we going?
Per trade chatter, Mike White and company have been sniffing around locations in Paris and along the French Riviera. The plan, as it stands now, would plant most of Season 4 in the South of France, with Paris sliding in as a hub for one thread of the story. Think sun-soaked coastline for the main event, quick train hop to the city for side drama.
The hotel shuffle (aka the unglamorous part that totally matters)
The show famously camped out at Four Seasons properties in its first two outings, but renewing that brand partnership sounds unlikely this time. HBO is reportedly eyeing two luxe alternatives for the French season: Hotel Lutetia and the Ritz Paris. It is a very practical production detail, but given how much The White Lotus leans on its locations, where they land can change the whole vibe.
About Sydney Sweeney coming back
Everyone is wondering if Olivia Mossbacher might reappear, especially since The White Lotus has very rarely brought characters back across seasons. To date, only three have crossed over: Jennifer Coolidge as Tanya McQuoid, Natasha Rothwell as Belinda Lindsey, and Jon Gries as Greg Hunt.
Mike White says he would love to work with Sweeney again, but he was pretty blunt about the odds right now:
"I don't know if we could afford her now. As of now, it doesn't look like that's gonna happen."
Which, fair. Her career exploded after Season 1. Fun bit of casting lore: Olivia was originally written as "an intellectually pretentious bully," and Sweeney was not the early favorite for the part. Then she crushed the audition and they shaped the version we ended up meeting at the Maui resort.
White and Sweeney on a different kind of trip?
Even if a White Lotus return is not in the cards right this second, Sweeney has floated the idea of teaming with Mike White on The Amazing Race. Her pitch was simple:
"Honestly, Mike and I would be a killer team."
White, who has actually competed on both The Amazing Race and Survivor, did not need convincing:
"I would definitely win with her. She's the master at getting what she wants. And I mean that in an absolutely good way."
What we know right now
- Setting: Season 4 is reportedly bound for France, primarily the South of France, with a Paris subplot.
- Hotels: The Four Seasons deal likely is not renewing; HBO is considering Hotel Lutetia and the Ritz Paris.
- Returning cast: Only three characters have repeated so far (Tanya, Belinda, Greg). An Olivia comeback sounds unlikely at the moment, per Mike White.
- Timeline: Filming is expected to kick off next year.
The bottom line
France fits this show like a linen suit, and the hotel pivot could give Season 4 a different flavor without losing the rich-people-on-vacation chaos. As for Sweeney, never say never, but do not bank on Olivia swanning into the Riviera anytime soon. If those Amazing Race comments turn into a real thing, though, that would be a fun detour.
The White Lotus is streaming on Max in the US.