Mike White's hit anthology series 'The White Lotus' will set its fourth season against the backdrop of the Cannes Film Festival, delivering a satire on the film industry. The show follows two rival film teams descending on the French Riviera, with one staying at a flashy hotel on the Croisette and the other at a luxurious hilltop hideaway, once again implicating the titular hotel chain.
With a budget of around $120 million, Season 4 is the most ambitious shoot to use the festival as its central setting. Production will span roughly seven months across the French Riviera and Paris, with interiors at Château de la Messardière (rebranded White Lotus du Cap), Hôtel Martinez (White Lotus Cannes) and Hôtel Lutetia. Despite its scale, the production is keeping a low profile, with the Château de la Messardière closed to the public and discreetly guarded.
The show has yet to become a phenomenon in France, where it streams on Prime Video and Canal+. Locals in Saint-Tropez and Cannes were largely unaware of the series, though open casting calls for extras have drawn large crowds, introducing many to the show. Vincent Cassel has been cast as the hotel manager, with Nadia Tereszkiewicz and Laura Smet also joining the French cast.
Producer David Bernad said the Cannes setting amplifies the show's comedy of cultural friction, focusing on fame and power dynamics. Helena Bonham Carter originally had a role as a washed-out star chasing a comeback but exited after nearly a week on set due to creative differences over White's demand for a boisterous performance. She was replaced by Laura Dern, who has previously collaborated with White on 'Enlightened' and 'Year of the Dog'.
