HBO’s dark comedy series “The White Lotus” was a huge surprise hit last summer. The show, from comedy veteran Mike White (“School of Rock,” “Nacho Libre”), followed a week in the life of vacationers as they relax and rejuvenate in a paradise-like resort located in Hawaii. Season two is on the horizon as production is about to kick off, and some big names are joining the casting lineup along with a setting shakeup.
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According to The Hollywood Reporter, the upcoming season has added character actor F. Murray Abraham (“The Grand Budapest Hotel”), Adam DiMarco (“The Order”), Tom Hollander (“Pride & Prejudice”), and Haley Lu Richardson (“The Edge of Seventeen”) in recurring roles. A collection of seasoned and young actors that seem like a perfect match for the project.
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The latest round of casting additions will join previously announced newcomers such as Michael Imperioli (“Sopranos”) and Aubrey Plaza (“Parks & Rec”). Imperioli recently did voice work on “The Sopranos” prequel “The Many Saints of Newark” that debuted on HBO Max and theaters last October.
Abraham will play family patriarch Bert Di Grasso, with Imperioli in the role of Bert’s son Dominic Di Grasso and DiMarco is the grandson, Albie Di Grasso. Hollander plays vacationing British ex-pat Quentin, and Richardson’s Portia is an unrelated character traveling with her boss.
THR also reveals season two will move from Hawaii to another White Lotus resort property in Italy and echoes rumblings of the potential (but still not confirmed) return of season one breakout Jennifer Coolidge. How they plan on having Coolidge return hasn’t been revealed just yet, but perhaps she’s just going on another vacation retreat.
What is confirmed is that White returns to write, direct, and executive produce the new season. It’ll be interesting to see how long HBO and White will want to continue the comedy concept beyond season two, as the series was initially conceived as a limited series but grew beyond that scope thanks to its breakout success.
