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The White Lotus team has chosen Cannes as its location for Season 4 which, if you’ve ever been to the South of France, you already know is the perfect location for HBO‘s hit show. Filming is taking place at the historic Hôtel Martinez in Cannes which is at least a little surprising as the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc is just down the road in Antibes but there are a handful of reasons that the Hotel du Cap was likely not chosen, not the least of which being Harvey Weinstein was a frequent former guest.
HBO’s series is entering its fourth season of scouting out the most opulent and luxurious resorts across the globe to feature in The White Lotus, a hit show created by Mike White. Each season takes place over the span of a week and follows the guests and workers at the resorts and is a comedic critique of the ultra-wealthy, elite, and ruling class of society.
So of course Cannes is the perfect fit, they just didn’t realize that until a stereotypical French encounter.
Why Was Cannes, France Was Chosen For Season 4 Of ‘The White Lotus’?
Speaking recently during a session at the Canneseries Festival, The White Lotus producer David Bernad revealed how after one encounter at a restaurant in France they canceled scouting trips to all other locations and immediately knew they were in the right spot, according to Variety.
Paradoxically and anecdotally, the only city in France I have ever been treated with the utmost respect and not as an American tourist was in Cannes during the Cannes Film Festival. years ago. I went in expecting the full French treatment, which I’ve received in the Alps and elsewhere, but in Cannes they could not have been lovelier and kinder. That is not what happened for The White Lotus producer David Bernad though.
He said “Something happened, actually here in Cannes. We went to dinner and we had a really specific experience with a waiter and a maître d’, and it was the stereotype. It was a very funny moment. And I think that it suddenly unlocked what the show is and the dynamics of the show.”
Bernad continued, saying “we literally canceled all the other places we were going. We were like, okay, we’re shooting here.” He then commented on what Season 4 of The White Lotus is going to be based upon, saying it will be “about the arts and what it is to be an artist” and also “how fame can be corrosive and can dictate your choices in life.”
The stereotypical French encounter and experience with the maître d’ is not a knock on the city of Cannes at all, he later clarified. Saying that when he first attended the Cannes Film Festival it was the first time in his career as a producer that he felt people respected him.
To that I will add that when I attended the Cannes Film Festival and walked the red carpet for the premiere of Fair Game (2010) starring Sean Penn and Naomi Watts, the only people who didn’t take me a LOT more serious than I deserved were the security. They pulled me off the red carpet for wearing a skinny satin black tie versus the traditional bowtie and made me purchase one from them on the spot. Then, of course, the cast of the film all walked the red carpet wearing skinny satin black ties because that was the style that year.
After that, we attended the Vanity Fair party at the Hotel-do-Cap and I learned how everyone takes you a LOT more serious when you are wearing a tuxedo. They just assume you’re someone, that you’ve arrived, and carry some sort of importance/gravitas for being there. It was remarkable.
What will it be about?
The White Lotus season 4 producer David Bernad would later add this season will focus on “Who are the people that can grab the world’s attention, who are the plus-one in a relationship, who’s the person who has that power, what are the things that satisfy us as people? Is it the love of an intimate partner? Is it the love of strangers? Is it the attention of the world?” He also said this is going to be the funniest season and the most personal yet.
Confirmed cast members for Season 4 of The White Lotus so far include (but are not limited to) Steve Coogan, Caleb Jonte Edwards, Dylan Ennis, Chris Messina, AJ Michalka, Kumail Nanjiani; Chloe Bennet, Sandra Bernhard, Heather Graham, Max Greenfield, Frida Gustavsson, Charlie Hall, Jarrad Paul, Rosie Perez and Ben Schnetzer. Helena Bonham Carter was slated to appear but has exited and her role is being recast.