François Arnaud (Heated Rivalry, The Borgias) will be checking into The White Lotus for the upcoming season. The Canadian actor was most recently in Heated Rivalry as Scott Hunter. The new series is set in the south of France. Arnaud hails from Montreal in French Canada, so whether he will be part of the staff or guests is still unclear. 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, The White Lotus is gearing up for another star-studded season with cast members including Alexander Ludwig (The Hunger Games, Vikings), AJ Michalka (Super 8 Grace Unplugged), Steve Coogan (Philomena, Alan Partridge),  Caleb Jonte Edwards (Black Snow, The Man And The Women), Helen Bohnem Carter (Fight Club, Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix), Marrisa Long (The Old Breed), and Chris Messina (Air, Argo). The White Lotus has always balanced casting recognizable names such as Carter while also making room for those whose careers may still be on the rise. Arnaud recently broke out in Heated Rivalry, where he was not the lead, putting him firmly in the rising stars camp. 

Past stars have seen major career changes. Jennifer Coolidge saw her career revitalized after starring in the first two seasons of the dark comedy mystery. Young talent often goes from unrecognizable to a household name. The roles are highly desirable. Academy Award winner Sam Rockwell (Vice, Seven Psychopaths), perhaps the most distinguished actor to spend time at The White Lotus, only appeared in a singular episode of the third season. Rockwell’s wife, Lesilee Bibb (Iron Man, Law Abiding Citizen), was a member of the main cast; this likely contributed to his desire to take part in the season. All cast members of The White Lotus are paid the same rate of $40,000 regardless of experience. This is a tactic many shows with large ensembles use to foster collaboration.

The fourth season will return to the Mediterranean after a one-season break in Southeast Asia. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series will film at the Château de Mélisandre in Saint-Tropez. Two seasons will now have filmed in tropical climates, and two seasons will have taken place in Mediterranean climates. Some fans have called for an alpine skiing backdrop like Aspen of the Alps. Although a fun change of pace, a mountain season would likely be a logistical nightmare. The show generally films during off-peak times to ensure complete privacy and avoid high-season hotel buyout prices. The off-season for a mountain resort occurs when skiing is not available, creating a difficult conundrum.