Why ‘The White Lotus’ season 4 heading to Saint Tropez has fans spiralling

The White Lotus is officially packing its bags for Saint Tropez, and the setting alone is already fuelling intense fan speculation. Variety has confirmed that season 4 of the HBO anthology series will film at the Château de la Messardière, a lavish 19th century castle turned ultra luxury hotel perched above the French Riviera. Known for attracting billionaires, celebrities and yacht owners each summer, the location feels tailor made for Mike White’s sharp satire of wealth, power and entitlement.

According to the report, filming is set to begin at the end of April and continue through October, placing production right in the middle of peak Riviera season. The Château de la Messardière will be one of several filming locations, with scenes also expected to shoot at a Paris hotel. As with previous seasons, the story will follow a group of hotel guests and staff over the course of a week, though specific plot details are being kept tightly under wraps.

Online, fans were quick to react to the Saint Tropez reveal. Social media users joked that this could be the show’s richest cast yet, while others speculated that the Cannes Film Festival may factor into the storyline. Since filming overlaps with the festival dates in May, many believe red carpets, film deals and industry egos could become part of the drama. Reddit threads quickly filled with theories about scandalous yacht parties, luxury brand politics and explosive guest dynamics.

Casting for season 4 is already underway, with a notable push to include French actors. Alexander Ludwig and AJ Michalka are the first confirmed new additions, joining a franchise that has previously featured Jennifer Coolidge, Natasha Rothwell and Jon Gries across multiple seasons. Season 3, set in Thailand, earned eight acting Emmy nominations, raising expectations even higher for what comes next.

The Château itself has also become a talking point. With nightly suites reportedly costing thousands, beach access via Rolls Royce transfer and sprawling private grounds, the hotel embodies the excess The White Lotus thrives on exposing. Fans are already calling the setting a character in its own right.