Mike White Recalls The Vacation That Inspired ‘The White Lotus’

Filmmaker Mike White is sharing the details of the unexpected origin of the Emmy-winning HBO series “The White Lotus.” The creator shared how a vacation with actress Jennifer Coolidge helped spark the idea for the hit series, shaping its satirical tone set against a luxurious resort backdrop.

In an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” White briefly talked about the two-week trip he took with Coolidge that led to creating “The White Lotus.” The two had been long-time friends, and they went on a safari in 2018.

White said that it was an “awesome” and “fun” experience, but he also noted how Coolidge was a bit paranoid during the trip. “So, we’d go out, and she’d be like, ‘Wow, look at those packs of lions!’ And then she’d be like, ‘Do you see how they’re looking at us? I know that look! We got to get out of here! I’m not kidding,'” White said, mimicking Coolidge’s voice.

Despite Coolidge’s paranoid tendencies, the director said he was “blessed” to have had that experience with the actress.

In 2025, Coolidge talked about that safari vacation with ELLE, recalling how she felt sick due to the hot weather. Moreover, she talked about her paranoia, sharing that she had to “look in the tent for five hours to check for snakes.” “I couldn’t handle anything,” the actress added.

Coolidge jokes that she was lucky White continued speaking to her after the trip, despite her fears and bouts of vomiting. As she said, that experience with White was what got her the role of Tanya McQuoid in “The White Lotus.”

Tanya McQuoid, a wealthy and dramatic heiress, was in the first two seasons of the series. Coolidge shared that one of the best parts of playing the role was hearing people say to her, “These gays, these gays are trying to murder me,” one of her famous lines from the series.

“The White Lotus” takes place in different locations each season, and the majority of the cast changes as well. As White shared, many actors want to be in the show, but he couldn’t accommodate everyone.

“The thing is, when you have a show that people want to be on, which I feel, obviously, grateful, you feel you’re rejecting everybody in town,” White said. He added that he just wants to cast the right actors for each role.

Some actors who have appeared in the series include Aubrey Plaza, Walton Goggins, Parker Posey, Alexandra Daddario, Sydney Sweeney, and Theo James, among others.

White joined season 37 of “Survivor” in 2018, where he finished as a runner-up. The reality series is currently in its 50th season, and White decided to join the milestone installment, which features an all-returning cast.

As The Blast previously reported, White was eager to play “Survivor” again and even offered to adjust “The White Lotus” schedule. Fortunately, he didn’t need to do that, as the schedules aligned perfectly. “I love my show, obviously, and I’m excited to go back to it, but it’s nice to think about something else, do something different, get out of my head, my little world,” White explained, per Deadline.

The director said “Survivor” was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up, and he would be returning to work on “The White Lotus” season 4 after filming “Survivor 50.”

The first three seasons of “The White Lotus” were set in Hawaii, Italy, and Thailand, respectively. According to White, they will be heading to France to shoot season 4, hinting, “We’ll be partying in Paris, but it’s not necessarily Paris.”

When it comes to destinations, White said he chooses the places he believes will be fun to film at. “You have these nice hotels, and they give me a really nice room. And then in the room there’s a White Lotus cake for me to eat and champagne,” he shared.

As reported by Variety, season 4’s new cast members include Marissa Long, Chris Messina, and Helena Bonham Carter. It will premiere sometime in 2027.