The White Lotus creator Mike White reveals who may return to Season 3

The next season of The White Lotus is already in the works, and there’s a big hint about which characters may return to the cursed hotel chain. WARNING: Spoilers.

WARNING: Spoilers.

Fans of The White Lotus are still reeling from last night’s finale, but information about the third instalment of the eerie anthology series has already begun doing the rounds online – and there’s a big clue about which characters may return.

In Monday’s Season 2 finale of the hit show – which is available to watch on Binge and Foxtel* – Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya McQuoid was sent to her watery grave after taking out an entire yacht full of conspiring gays, leaving fans in shock given she and Jon Gries were the only returning stars from the first season.

Coolidge and Gries were the only stars to reprise their Season 1 roles.

But while many would expect an entirely new cast now that Coolidge is out of the picture, there may still be some familiar faces in round three of the cursed hotel chain.

News that The White Lotus had been renewed for a third season came just three episodes after Season 2 premiered, prompting fans to speculate possible plot points and potential characters to make their return.

Creator Mike White has since given several hints about what to expect.

White teased the potential future of Michael Imperioli’s character, Dominic Di Grosso (Albie’s cheating father) in an interview with Esquire.

“Who knows, maybe there’ll be another White Lotus season where Dominic comes with his wife and they patch it all up,” White said, adding that he “just loved working with Mike [Imperioli] so much.”

Dominic’s wife, Abby, has only been heard so far, via a sneaky voice cameo from Laura Dern.

Michael Imperioli and F. Murray Abraham in The White Lotus. Picture: Supplied

In the same interview, White hinted at the possible continuation of Tanya’s story via her shady husband Greg as the investigation into her mysterious death plays out.

Perhaps most surprisingly, her Gen Z assistant Portia, who was the most divisive character of the season among viewers may even make an appearance, hopefully with a brand new wardrobe after leaving her luggage behind in the finale.

“I think as far as like, what happens to Greg and the conspiracy of Tanya’s death, it’s possible that I think Portia is scared enough to just leave it alone,” White told Esquire. “But maybe you’ll have to wait to find out what happens.”

Portia was widely mocked for her chaotic fashion choices.

Portia certainly set tongues wagging on Twitter throughout the finale on Monday night:

The White Lotus finale counts as a happy ending bc Portia left all her clothes behind

— Jess Dweck (@TheDweck) December 12, 2022

portia: pic.twitter.com/Zb9rnpoB55

— 𝔪𝔢𝔤 (@bymeg) December 12, 2022

Portia at the gate for her flight #TheWhiteLotus#thewhitelotusfinalepic.twitter.com/0ZVKEM5SmK

— IndustrialSaltshaker (@BulkPepper) December 12, 2022

I really put up with a lot from Portia fashion wise. I know it is deliberate. But the scarf tied over the cap is my limit. You look dumb as hell #TheWhiteLotus

— Bolu Babalola 🍯&🌶 (@BeeBabs) December 12, 2022

Meanwhile, Connie Britton, who starred in Season 1, has revealed whispers of a comeback plot for her character Nicole Mossbacher.

“[White] wanted me to be in the second season, and there was an idea that I loved for the character,” she told Deadline in June.

“A piece of casting didn’t work in the second season and we’re hoping to [do] that in the third season. I would love to see a spin-off on every character in that show.”

One White Lotus icon has left, but could another return? Picture: Getty Images

As for where the third season could be set, White has already floated Asia as the next location.

“The first season we highlighted money and then the second season is sex and I think the third season, it would be maybe a kind of satirical and funny look at death in Eastern religion and spirituality – it feels like it could be a rich tapestry to do another round at White Lotus,” he said during an HBO feature following the finale.

“I think it’d be fun to maybe go to a whole different continent,” he said.

“You know, we did Europe, and maybe Asia, something crazy like that, that would be fun.”

Production has yet to begin on Season 3, but looking at previous seasons’ release dates, a premiere date in 2023 isn’t out of the question.

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