The White Lotus | |
---|---|
Genre | |
Created by | Mike White |
Written by | Mike White |
Directed by | Mike White |
Starring | see below |
Music by |
|
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 13 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
|
Producers |
|
Production locations | |
Cinematography |
|
Editors |
|
Running time | 54–77 minutes |
Production companies |
|
Original release | |
Network | HBO |
Release | July 11, 2021 – present |
The White Lotus is an American black comedy drama anthology television series created by Mike White for HBO. [4] [5] It follows the guests and employees of the fictional White Lotus resort chain, whose interactions are affected by their various psychosocial dysfunctions. The press release notes that "each passing day, a darker complexity emerges in these picture-perfect travelers, the hotel's cheerful employees, and the idyllic locale itself". [6] The first and second season are set in Hawaii and Sicily, respectively. The third season is being filmed in Thailand. [7]
Intended as a 6-part limited series, The White Lotus premiered on July 11, 2021, to critical acclaim and high ratings. The show's success led to HBO renewing it as an anthology series; a second season premiered on October 30, 2022. [8] In November 2022, the series was renewed for a third season which is set to premiere in February 2025. [9] [10]
The series received critical acclaim. It was included on the American Film Institute's list of the ten best programs of 2021 and 2022, and it received various accolades, including 15 Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes.
Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | |||
1 | 6 | July 11, 2021 | August 15, 2021 | |
2 | 7 | October 30, 2022 | December 11, 2022 |
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "Arrivals" | Mike White | Mike White | July 11, 2021 | 0.420 [23] |
2 | 2 | "New Day" | Mike White | Mike White | July 18, 2021 | 0.459 [24] |
3 | 3 | "Mysterious Monkeys" | Mike White | Mike White | July 25, 2021 | 0.478 [25] |
4 | 4 | "Recentering" | Mike White | Mike White | August 1, 2021 | 0.515 [26] |
5 | 5 | "The Lotus-Eaters" | Mike White | Mike White | August 8, 2021 | 0.541 [26] |
6 | 6 | "Departures" | Mike White | Mike White | August 15, 2021 | 0.850 [27] |
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | 1 | "Ciao" | Mike White | Mike White | October 30, 2022 | 0.460 [28] |
8 | 2 | "Italian Dream" | Mike White | Mike White | November 6, 2022 | 0.421 [29] |
9 | 3 | "Bull Elephants" | Mike White | Mike White | November 13, 2022 | 0.474 [30] |
10 | 4 | "In the Sandbox" | Mike White | Mike White | November 20, 2022 | 0.416 [31] |
11 | 5 | "That's Amore" | Mike White | Mike White | November 27, 2022 | 0.641 [32] |
12 | 6 | "Abductions" | Mike White | Mike White | December 4, 2022 | 0.684 [33] |
13 | 7 | "Arrivederci" | Mike White | Mike White | December 11, 2022 | 0.854 [34] |
On October 19, 2020, HBO gave The White Lotus a limited series order that consisted of six episodes. [4] The series was created, written and directed by Mike White. White also serves as executive producer alongside David Bernad and Nick Hall. [35]
On August 10, 2021, HBO renewed the series for a second season, [36] which consists of seven episodes and is titled The White Lotus: Sicily. [37]
On November 18, 2022, HBO renewed the series for a third season. [9] Following the season two finale, creator Mike White hinted that the third season would be set in Asia and invoke a "satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality", similar to how the first season focused on money, and the second season on sex. [38] The third season production was disrupted by the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, resulting in a release being pushed to 2025. [39] [40]
Upon the limited series order announcement, Murray Bartlett, Connie Britton, Jennifer Coolidge, Alexandra Daddario, Fred Hechinger, Jake Lacy, Brittany O'Grady, Natasha Rothwell, Sydney Sweeney, and Steve Zahn were cast to star. [41] On October 30, 2020, Molly Shannon, Jon Gries, Jolene Purdy, Kekoa Kekumano, and Lukas Gage joined the cast in recurring roles. [42] Alec Merlino, who was a fellow contestant on Survivor: David vs. Goliath with White, was cast as Hutch, a waiter. [13]
Upon the announcement of the second season renewal, HBO announced that a predominantly new cast of characters would be focused on at another White Lotus property for the second season, though Mike White had stated there was a possibility for a few cast members from the first season to return as their characters. [43] On October 15, 2021, Coolidge was reported to be set to return for the second season. [44] In January 2022, Michael Imperioli, Aubrey Plaza, F. Murray Abraham, Adam DiMarco, Tom Hollander, and Haley Lu Richardson were confirmed to be cast to star in the second season. [18] [19] [14] In February 2022, Theo James, Meghann Fahy, and Will Sharpe joined the cast as series regulars while Leo Woodall was cast in a recurring role for the second season. [15] In March 2022, Beatrice Grannò, Sabrina Impacciatore, and Simona Tabasco joined the starring cast for the second season. [16] The second season features White's fellow Survivor: David vs. Goliath contestants Kara Kay and Angelina Keeley in cameo roles. [45]
Upon the third season renewal announcement, producers confirmed that there will be a new cast of characters on another White Lotus resort. [9] In April 2023, Natasha Rothwell was reported to be reprising her role as Belinda for the series' third season. [46] In January 2024, it was announced that Leslie Bibb, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey, Dom Hetrakul, Tayme Thapthimthong, Carrie Coon, Miloš Biković, Christian Friedel, Morgana O'Reilly, Lek Patravadi, Shalini Peiris, Walton Goggins, Sarah Catherine Hook, Sam Nivola, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Aimee Lou Wood, Francesca Corney, Nicholas Duvernay, and Arnas Fedaravičius joined the cast for the third season. [47] [48] [49] [50] [51] Biković's casting was criticized by Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs over his support for Russia's invasion of the country; Biković was subsequently dropped from the cast on February 2 and replaced with Julian Kostov. [52] [53] In February 2024, Scott Glenn and Lalisa Manobal were cast. [54] [55] In March 2024, Charlotte Le Bon joined the cast to replace Corney in a recasting. [56]
Principal photography for the first season began in October 2020 in Hawaii under COVID-19 guidelines. [57] By November 21, 2020, the series was halfway through filming at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea and was scheduled to film in December at locations around Maui. [58] [59] [60]
On January 20, 2022, the second season was reported to be filmed at the Four Seasons San Domenico Hotel in Taormina, Sicily, Italy; [61] on February 28, 2022, HBO confirmed that production had begun there. [37]
In March 2023, Variety reported season 3 was likely to take place in one of Four Seasons resorts chain in Thailand. [7] Honshu, Japan was scouted as a filming location by Mike White, but ultimately Thailand was chosen as the filming location for the third season due to the series receiving a $4.4 million tax incentive for filming in Thailand, while Japan does not have a film-incentive system. [62] Filming began in February 2024, with locations including Bangkok, Phuket, and Ko Samui. [63] [64] [65] [66]
Chilean composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer was hired by White to score the first season. [67]
For the second season, Tapia de Veer collaborated with his manager Kim Neundorf to finish original compositions due to his own scheduling conflicts. [68] Singer Stephanie Osorio provided the vocals. [69]
According to Vulture , the costs of production for the second season remained at under US$3 million per episode, the same as season 1. Italy, where season 2 was filmed, offers up to 40% tax credit to foreign productions taking place in the country. [70]
The series premiered on July 11, 2021, on HBO and HBO Max. [5] In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, the series premiered on Sky Atlantic on August 16, 2021. [71] The second season premiered on October 30, 2022. [8] The third season is scheduled to premiere in February 2025. [10]
The first season was released on DVD on September 13, 2022. [72]
Season | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic |
---|---|---|
1 | 90% (97 reviews) [73] | 82 (39 reviews) [74] |
2 | 94% (122 reviews) [75] | 81 (40 reviews) [76] |
Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 90% for the first season of The White Lotus based on 97 critic reviews, with an average rating of 8.4/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Though its true intentions can get a bit murky, gorgeous vistas, twisty drama, and a pitch perfect cast make The White Lotus a compelling—if uncomfortable—viewing destination." [73] On Metacritic, the season has a score of 82 out of 100 based on 39 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". [74]
For the second season, Rotten Tomatoes reported a 94% approval rating with an average score of 8.2/10, based on 122 reviews. The website's critics consensus states, "Swapping its tropical trappings for Euro chic while focusing primarily on the corrosive influence of carnal desire, The White Lotus remains a cookie full of arsenic that goes down smooth." [75] On Metacritic, the season has a score of 81 out of 100 based on 40 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". [76]
No. | Title | Air date | Rating (18–49) | Viewers (millions) | DVR (18–49) | DVR viewers (millions) | Total (18–49) | Total viewers (millions) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Arrivals" | July 11, 2021 | 0.08 | 0.420 [23] | 0.04 | 0.198 | 0.12 | 0.618 [23] |
2 | "New Day" | July 18, 2021 | 0.06 | 0.459 [24] | 0.06 | 0.298 | 0.12 | 0.757 [24] |
3 | "Mysterious Monkeys" | July 25, 2021 | 0.11 | 0.478 [25] | 0.08 | 0.392 | 0.19 | 0.870 [25] |
4 | "Recentering" | August 1, 2021 | 0.14 | 0.515 [26] | — | — | — | — |
5 | "The Lotus-Eaters" | August 8, 2021 | 0.11 | 0.541 [77] | — | — | — | — |
6 | "Departures" | August 15, 2021 | 0.2 | 0.850 [27] | — | — | — | — |
The first season received 11 nominations at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards in the limited or anthology series categories. [78] It was also nominated for nine Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards across eight categories, winning five. [79] The series won the most Emmys across both ceremonies, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Murray Bartlett for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, Jennifer Coolidge for Outstanding Supporting Actress, and Mike White for both Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Writing. Connie Britton, Alexandra Daddario, Jake Lacy, Natasha Rothwell, Sydney Sweeney, and Steve Zahn also received acting nominations. [80]
The second season received 12 nominations at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards across five categories and 11 nominations at the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards across 10 categories, moving from limited/anthology series to drama series. It won four awards at the Creative Arts Emmys. [81] For the Primetime Emmys, Coolidge won for Outstanding Supporting Actress. [82] Other nominations included Outstanding Drama Series; F. Murray Abraham, Michael Imperioli, Theo James, and Will Sharpe for Outstanding Supporting Actor; Meghann Fahy, Sabrina Impacciatore, Aubrey Plaza, and Simona Tabasco for Outstanding Supporting Actress; and White for Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Writing for the episode "Arrivederci". [83]
The series was included in the American Film Institute Awards top ten Programs of the Year list for 2021 and 2022. [84] [85] Other nominations include three Critics' Choice Television Awards (winning all), [86] [87] five Golden Globe Awards (winning two), [88] [89] and a People's Choice Award. [90]
Murray Bartlett is an Australian actor. He became known for starring as a luxury resort manager in the first season of the HBO dark comedy series The White Lotus (2021), for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthony Series or Movie. He gained further recognition for his role as Nick De Noia in the Hulu miniseries Welcome to Chippendales (2022), and Frank in the episode "Long, Long Time" of the HBO drama series The Last of Us (2023), receiving Primetime Emmy Award nominations for both.
Alexandra Anna Daddario is an American actress. She had her breakthrough portraying Annabeth Chase in the Percy Jackson film series (2010–2013). She has since starred in Hall Pass (2011), Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013), San Andreas (2015), Baywatch (2017), and We Summon the Darkness (2019).
Sabrina Impacciatore is an Italian actress. She is known internationally for her role as Valentina on season two of the HBO black comedy drama series The White Lotus (2022), which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
Big Little Lies is an American black comedy drama television series based on the 2014 novel by Liane Moriarty. Created and written by David E. Kelley, it aired on HBO from February 19, 2017, to July 21, 2019, encompassing 14 episodes and two seasons. Originally billed as a miniseries, Jean-Marc Vallée directed the first season, while Andrea Arnold directed the second season. In November 2023, Nicole Kidman stated a third season would be made.
Barry is an American black comedy crime drama television series created by Alec Berg and Bill Hader that premiered on HBO on March 25, 2018, and concluded on May 28, 2023, after four seasons and 32 episodes. Hader stars as Barry Berkman, a former U.S. Marine from Cleveland who works as a hitman; upon traveling to Los Angeles to kill a target, he finds himself joining an acting class taught by Gene Cousineau, where he meets aspiring actress Sally Reed and begins to question his path in life as he deals with his criminal associates such as Monroe Fuches and NoHo Hank.
The Flight Attendant is an American dark comedy drama mystery thriller television series developed by Steve Yockey based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Chris Bohjalian. It stars Kaley Cuoco in the title role and premiered on HBO Max on November 26, 2020. In December 2020, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on April 21, 2022. In January 2024, the series was canceled after two seasons.
The Righteous Gemstones is an American crime comedy drama television series created by Danny McBride that premiered on August 18, 2019, on HBO. The series follows a famous and dysfunctional family of televangelists. It stars McBride, Adam DeVine, Edi Patterson, Tony Cavalero, Cassidy Freeman, Gregory Alan Williams, Tim Baltz, and John Goodman. The series has aired three seasons, and was renewed for a fourth in 2023.
Avenue 5 is a science fiction comedy television series created by Armando Iannucci that premiered on HBO in the United States on January 19, 2020. It stars Hugh Laurie and Josh Gad in lead roles as captain and owner of a fictional interplanetary cruise ship Avenue 5. HBO produced the series in the United States and Sky UK in the United Kingdom. In February 2020, just days before the COVID-19 pandemic led to worldwide lockdowns, the series was renewed for a second season; filming moved forward in late 2021, with a release date of October 10, 2022. In February 2023, the series was cancelled after two seasons.
The Other Two is an American sitcom created by Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider. The story follows two floundering millennial siblings who must grapple with their 13-year-old brother's overnight fame. The series premiered on Comedy Central on January 24, 2019, and was renewed for a second season shortly after, on February 11, 2019. The second season premiered on August 26, 2021, on HBO Max. In September 2021, the series was renewed for a third and final season, which premiered on May 4, 2023 and ended on June 29, 2023.
Superman & Lois is an American superhero drama television series developed for The CW by Todd Helbing and Greg Berlanti, based on the DC Comics characters Superman and Lois Lane, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch star as the title characters Clark Kent / Superman and Lois Lane, respectively. Jordan Elsass and Alex Garfin portray the couple's twin sons Jonathan and Jordan Kent, with Michael Bishop replacing the former in the third season. The series also stars Erik Valdez, Inde Navarrette, Wolé Parks, Adam Rayner, Dylan Walsh, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Tayler Buck, Sofia Hasmik, Chad L. Coleman, and Michael Cudlitz.
We're Here is a HBO reality television series featuring former Drag Race contestants, documenting the drag queens as they travel across the United States to recruit small-town residents to participate in one-night-only drag shows. The show premiered on April 23, 2020.
Somebody Somewhere is an American comedy drama television series starring Bridget Everett that was created by Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen. Set in Manhattan, Kansas, the series follows Sam (Everett) as she returns to her hometown and navigates life after the death of her sister.
Scenes from a Marriage is an American drama television miniseries developed, written and directed by Hagai Levi produced for HBO, and starring Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain. It is an English-language remake of the 1973 Swedish miniseries of the same name by Ingmar Bergman. It was presented at the 2021 Venice Film Festival and it premiered on September 12, 2021, on HBO. For his performance, Isaac was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award, a SAG Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film, with Chastain also earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Television Film.
Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty is an American sports drama television series created by Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht for HBO, based on the book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s by Jeff Pearlman. The first season, comprising 10 episodes, chronicles the 1980s Showtime era of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team, featuring notable NBA stars Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It features an ensemble cast led by John C. Reilly, Jason Clarke, Jason Segel, Gaby Hoffmann, Rob Morgan, and Adrien Brody. The series premiered on March 6, 2022, with the pilot episode directed by Adam McKay. In April 2022, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on August 6, 2023. On September 17, 2023, it was announced that the series was canceled after 2 seasons.
Hacks is an American comedy-drama television series created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky that premiered on May 13, 2021, on HBO Max. Starring Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, and Carl Clemons-Hopkins, the series centers on the professional relationship between a young comedy writer and a legendary stand-up comedian. In June 2021, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on May 12, 2022. In June 2022, the series was renewed for a third season, which premiered on May 2, 2024. In May 2024, the series was renewed for a fourth season.
The first season of The White Lotus, an American satirical comedy-drama anthology television series created, written, and directed by Mike White, premiered on HBO on July 11, 2021. The season was greenlit in October 2020 as a limited series, filmed in Hawaii in late 2020, and features an ensemble cast of Murray Bartlett, Connie Britton, Jennifer Coolidge, Alexandra Daddario, Fred Hechinger, Jake Lacy, Brittany O'Grady, Natasha Rothwell, Sydney Sweeney, Steve Zahn and Molly Shannon. The season consists of six episodes, and follows the lives of the staff and wealthy guests at a tropical resort in Hawaii.
The second season of The White Lotus, an American satirical comedy-drama anthology television series created, written, and directed by Mike White, premiered on HBO on October 30, 2022. The season was greenlit in on August 10, 2021, filmed in Sicily in early 2022, and features an ensemble cast of F. Murray Abraham, Jennifer Coolidge, Adam DiMarco, Meghann Fahy, Beatrice Grannò, Jon Gries, Tom Hollander, Sabrina Impacciatore, Michael Imperioli, Theo James, Aubrey Plaza, Haley Lu Richardson, Will Sharpe, Simona Tabasco and Leo Woodall. Coolidge and Gries are the only cast members to reprise their roles from the previous season.
The crew took over the hotel ballroom and sewed enough curtains, pillows, and headboard covers to take the resort from understated to vibrant