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‘White Lotus’ Season 4 gets major update, adds ‘The Hunger Games’ star to cast — here’s what we know so far

Alexander Ludwig and AJ Michalka join ‘The White Lotus’ Season 4 as the hit series heads to France for its next chapter

HBO’s Emmy-winning anthology ‘The White Lotus’ is beginning to take shape for its fourth season. Alexander Ludwig and AJ Michalka have officially joined the series, as reported by Variety. They became the first newly announced cast members for the upcoming chapter of Mike White’s darkly satirical drama. As with previous seasons, Season 4 of ‘The White Lotus’ will introduce an entirely fresh ensemble, continuing the show’s tradition of rotating casts and settings. The series has largely avoided bringing characters back, with only a handful of exceptions so far. 

Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya McQuoid appeared in Seasons 1 and 2, Natasha Rothwell’s Belinda Lindsey returned after debuting in Season 1, and Jon Gries’ Greg Hunt remains the only character to span all three seasons. Ludwig and Michalka now lead the next wave of new faces stepping into the franchise. While HBO has kept character details tightly under wraps, the setting for Season 4 has already been confirmed. The new installment will take place in France. As always, the story will unfold over the course of a single week, following a new group of privileged guests and long-suffering employees at a White Lotus luxury resort.

Series creator Mike White has hinted that this season may look and feel noticeably different. In comments released by HBO following the Season 3 finale, White teased, “I want to get a little bit out of the ‘crashing waves against rocks’ vernacular.” Specific plot details remain secret, and there is currently no word on how Ludwig and Michalka fit into the ensemble: whether as guests, staff members, or something more unexpected. Also, AJ Michalka brings a mix of music and acting experience to the series. She rose to fame as one half of the pop-rock duo Aly & AJ, alongside her sister Aly Michalka.

The pair became staples of the Disney era after signing with Hollywood Records, with multiple songs featured across Disney Channel projects. AJ also appeared in the Disney Channel original movie ‘Cow Belles.’ Her film credits include ‘The Lovely Bones’ and ‘Super 8,’ while on television she appeared in ABC’s ‘The Goldbergs’ and starred in its spinoff ‘Schooled.’ Michalka has also built an extensive voice-acting résumé, lending her voice to animated series such as ‘She-Ra and the Princesses of Power’ and ‘Steven Universe.’ Alexander Ludwig, meanwhile, is best known for his screen presence in large-scale dramas and action projects.

He gained recognition for his role as Björn Ironside on History Channel’s ‘Vikings.’ His recent credits include ‘Earth Abides’ on MGM+, appearances in the two most recent ‘Bad Boys’ films, and his early role as Cato in ‘The Hunger Games.’ Previous seasons famously partnered with Four Seasons Resorts to stand in for the fictional White Lotus hotels, and France offers no shortage of luxury options, including the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat and Paris’ Hotel George V. However, as per Deadline, HBO has not confirmed whether a Four Seasons property will be used this time, and there is no current marketing agreement in place for Season 4.