See Also: The White Lotus Season 3 Ending, Explained: Who Dies?
Four Seasons, Koh Samui, turned into a set for The White Lotus Season 3
With its weekly release, The White Lotus didn’t just unleash plot twists but also wanderlust-inducing scenes. From the Instagrammable main pool with the reflection of coconut trees to unobstructed, panoramic views of the Gulf of Thailand from each villa and the expansive Residence, which the wealthy Ratliff family inhabited, watching the show is like taking a luxury vacation vicariously. Mike White and the hotel’s staff ran a tight ship as the whole place was closed off to the public during peak season while filming. The staff worked closely with the production to transform the spaces into workable sets. All this while word of what was going on inside did not get out. Of course, there were whispers, the cast includes some big names, including Walton Goggins, Parker Posey, Leslie Bibb, Jason Isaacs, Jon Gries and Lalisa Manoban aka Blackpink’s Lisa, one of the most famous pop stars in the world. The K-pop idol made her acting debut with the show. However, HBO was particular about security, and there were no leaks. Spilling the details that he could, the resort’s manager, Hannes Schneider, revealed that security was doubled as the production came with an “army of people.” In fact, a majority of the staff saw very little of the cast.
The cast and crew stayed at the villas for the majority of the production
For the cast, however, the hotel wasn’t just a set they went in and out of. They lived on the property. The show might have a ton of drama, but turns out, the behind-the-scenes reality was completely different. Schneider tells us that the cast was super sweet and viewers will be interested to know that there was “no drama.” It is hard to imagine considering what went down in the slow-burn season simmering with tension. He also had a chat with managers from the previous The White Lotus locations – Maui, Hawaii and Taormina, Sicily, to see what can be done differently. He took their advice, which was – they were there to do a job. And just like that, two months wrapped up.
Thai and Indian food were hot favourites with Lisa and the rest of the ensemble cast
Schneider shared that preparing over hundreds of lunches within thirty to forty minutes for the cast and crew was a major challenge during meal times. The ensemble cast was big on Thai cuisine. They dug into pad Thai and Tom yum, all the flavours that the country has to offer. Staying at the hotel doubled up as a way to immerse the cast in Thai culture and history. Indian chef Deepak Palakurthi also revealed that the cast enjoyed Indian dishes ranging from curries to tikkas. It sounds like the perfect experience that seamlessly blends into the performances. Apart from the cast, we were told that several Indian celebrities, including Allu Arjun, Rani Mukerji and Karan Aujla, have stayed at the hotel in the past, barely leaving their villas, understandably. While most scenes of the show saturate the backdrop as White’s camera lingers on the characters, the glimpses that one catches upon watching the eight bingeable episodes are enough to paint a stunning picture. In fact, just after the premiere, the demand for the resort shot up almost immediately. The prices went up soon after. Amidst the tourism boom in Thailand, Koh Samui is only getting more popular. And no amount of mass murder scenes and eat-the-rich commentary will bring it down.
In case you missed it, here’s our breakdown of The White Lotus Season 3’s ending:
The White Lotus Season 3 Ending, Explained: Who Dies?
See Also: Lisa Drops Pics With The White Lotus 3 Co-Stars, Dons “Piper, No…” Cap