Looking to book a vacation? Good news: You can go international (without even leaving home) with Season 2 of HBO’s The White Lotus.
The luxury hotel-set dramedy from Mike White debuted last summer on HBO, following an eclectic group of pampered guests and overworked staffers at a high-end Hawaiian resort, with a cast led by Connie Britton, Sydney Sweeney and Jennifer Coolidge. Emmy voters certainly enjoyed their stay, lavishing the first season with a total of 20 nominations this year, including one for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. And we know the story will continue on: HBO is officially bringing The White Lotus back for a second season, which will of course also stream on HBO Max (sign up here).
But what can we expect from this second stay in paradise? Are any of the original cast members coming back? What famous names have already signed up for Season 2? And are we going back to Hawaii, or have we charted a course to a new location? Let us be your concierge: Read on to find out everything we know so far about The White Lotus Season 2, from casting details to a sneak peek at the first footage that’s been released, and then hit the comments to share what you’d love to see next season.
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It's back for Season 2, with a new cast and new location
Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO At first, we thought The White Lotus might be a one-off limited series — and we had so much fun watching Season 1, we were a little sad about that. Not to worry: Days ahead of the Season 1 finale, HBO confirmed the series would return for Season 2, although one that would follow a new cast of characters staying at another property in the White Lotus luxury hotel chain. Mike White is returning as writer, director, executive producer and showrunner.
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Jennifer Coolidge is returning
Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO There will be at least one repeat guest in Season 2: TVLine first broke the news in October that Coolidge — who snagged a well-deserved Emmy nod for her Season 1 turn as loopy socialite Tanya McQuoid — would be back in the cast for the second season as well. Will she be playing Tanya again, though, or a new character? Stay tuned…
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Michael Imperioli is the first newcomer to join the cast…
Image Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty Images The Sopranos vet, who won an Emmy for his role as Christopher Moltisanti, is returning to the HBO family with a key role in Season 2. He’ll play Dominic Di Grasso, a man traveling with his elderly father Bert and his college grad son Albie.
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… followed by Aubrey Plaza
Image Credit: Peter Yang/August Best known as the ultra-cynical April Ludgate from Parks and Recreation, Plaza will try to find something to smile about while playing another hotel guest in Season 2. Her character is named Harper Spiller, and she’s a woman on vacation with her husband and friends.
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F. Murray Abraham and three other actors have also signed the guestbook
Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO The Oscar winner and Mythic Quest costar will play Bert Di Grasso, the father of Imperioli’s character Dominic, with Adam DiMarco (The Magicians) playing Dominic’s son Albie. Plus, Haley Lu Richardson (Recovery Road) will play Portia, a young woman traveling with her boss, while Tom Hollander (The Night Manager) is playing Quentin, an English expat traveling with his friends and nephew.
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We have a location!
Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO Start brushing up on your Italian: We learned in January that Season 2 will be set in Sicily, at another White Lotus property. (Sorry, Murray Bartlett’s Armond doesn’t manage this one.)
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Theo James and Meghann Fahey will play husband and wife
Image Credit: HBO screenshot The Sanditon and Bold Type alums have joined the Season 2 cast as Cameron and Daphne Babcock, a married couple traveling with Plaza’s character Harper. (Let’s hope their trip is more romantic than Shane and Rachel’s was in Season 1.) Plus, Will Sharpe (Sherlock) will play Harper’s husband Ethan, and Leo Woodall will play hotel guest Jack.
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There's a new manager behind the front desk
Image Credit: HBO screenshot Sabrina Impacciatore will take over for Bartlett’s Armond as the Sicily resort’s manager Valentina. Plus, Beatrice Grannó and Simona Tabasco will play Sicilian locals who hang around the resort.
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Jennifer Coolidge is playing Tanya!
Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO Yes, you heard it here first: TVLine confirmed in June that Coolidge would indeed be reprising her role as Tanya McQuoid in Season 2. “I do think people will like [Season 2], based on the scenes that I’ve witnessed of other people,” Coolidge told us in a recent interview. “I think people are really going to be riveted.”
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We have our first footage — and look who else is back
Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO HBO Max released a promo in July for all the upcoming shows coming soon to the streamer, and it included three tantalizing seconds from Season 2, with hotel manager Valentina welcoming guests to the White Lotus and Aubrey Plaza’s character sharing a Champagne toast with her friends. But most importantly, it confirmed that Jon Gries is returning as Tanya’s love interest Greg, with a quick shot of the two of them riding a scooter through the Italian countryside. Ciao bella!
