The White Lotus cast just answered 7 of our most burning questions about the smash-hit series
For the last seven weeks, we’ve been tuning into the third season of The White Lotus. The streaming sensation, created by writer-director Mike White, has been the topic of conversation at the office tea station.
As we gear up for the season finale next Monday, there are a lot of loose ends to be tied up. (Who fired the gunshots heard at the beginning of the series? Whose body is found floating in the hotel pond? What’s going to happen between Belinda and Greg? And will Piper become a Buddhist?)
But first, the show’s creator, cast and crew answered some of our most burning questions in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter. So scroll down for the intel…
Everyone auditions for The White Lotus
The smash-hit TV series turns little-known actors into stars, so naturally everybody in Hollywood is vying to be in The White Lotus, but that doesn’t mean they can just call up Mike White – everyone needs to audition.
‘These roles are highly coveted by all of our friends, so you want to show up and do a good job. You want people to say, “I’m glad it was you.” There’s a lot of pressure,’ reveals Carrie Coon (Laurie Duffy) in the interview. ‘Everyone auditions for The White Lotus,’
Everyone needs to audition for The White Lotus
‘I think people love this show so much that they’re willing to audition,’ the series’ casting director, Meredith Tucker, adds.
Everyone gets paid the same
Another non-negotiable is the salary, which is the same for all the series regulars.
‘Everyone is treated the same on The White Lotus. They get paid the same, and we do alphabetical billing, so you’re getting people who want to do the project for the right reasons,’ says the series’ producer, David Bernad.
‘It’s a system we developed in the first season because there was no money to make the show,’ he adds. ‘And it’s not negotiable.’
Yes, Jason Isaacs wore a prosthetic in that scene
Ever since Timothy Ratliff went full-frontal in the third episode, the internet has been speculating about whether Jason Isaacs was wearing a prosthetic – and we finally have an answer.
Jason Isaacs as Timothy Ratliff in The White Lotus
When discussing Isaacs’ nude scene, White seemingly confirms a prosthetic was used: ‘He was totally easy and wanted to do it. I think Jason wants the world to think that that’s him, and so he doesn’t want to admit that it’s a prosthetic. That is my two cents.’
Yes, they took over the entire Four Seasons resort in Koh Samui
For the entire seven-month duration of filming, the cast did not live in rented accommodation, but in the real-life White Lotus hotel (aka the Four Seasons Koh Samui).
‘When we first got there, we took over the Four Seasons Koh Samui. You can’t have paying guests when there’s a film crew there, so I got a huge villa to myself with a full-sized pool and a butler,’ Jason Isaacs reveals. ‘It’s fabulous to FaceTime your friends and show off, but I was also really lonely.’
No, filming The White Lotus is not glamorous as it seems
Despite the luxurious backdrop of a five-star resort, filming is not as glamorous as it seems.
‘People have an idea about what it’s like to do The White Lotus – that it’s glamorous – and they’re wrong,’ says Carrie Coon. ‘It’s way more like working in a regional theater in Wisconsin, where you’re showing up in a new town every day. We moved 12 times or something. We were living out of suitcases.’
Filming The White Lotus is not as glamorous as it seems.
‘And you’re dealing with cicadas that are screaming as if they’re on fire, and you’re trying to pretend that your face is not melting into your chest because of the incredible heat,’ Natasha Rothwell (Belinda Lindsey) chimes in.
‘I also know way too much about a lot of people’s gastrointestinal issues. There’s a lot of sharing and caring that goes on because you’ve become this weird, beautiful family,’ she adds.
Yes, Greg killed Tanya
Just in case there was any doubt: Greg was involved in Tanya’s murder.
Jon Gries as Greg Hunt in The White Lotus
‘Even at the end of season two, I thought maybe Greg wasn’t intending to kill Tanya. People would say, “You killed her!” And I was like, “I wasn’t even there!” I’d created all kinds of confusing scenarios in my head,’ reveals Jon Gries (Greg Hunt).
‘So, early in season three, before I’d shot anything, I walked up to Mike [White] and said, “Would you say Greg is a psychopath?” He just said, “Psychopath!” and walked away.’
The finale is going to be ‘epic’
‘Whatever you think you know, you’re going to get it wrong,’ teases Gries.
‘It’s an hour and a half. It’s kind of epic. As a filmmaker, it’s probably the piece of work that I’m like, “I can’t believe I did that”,’ reveals Mike White.
‘My hope is that it’ll feel like a cathartic sad or a satisfying sad and not a “What the fuck?” sad, but people are going to have a million different opinions. You just hope you stick the landing.’
