Though we'd heard that Jennifer Coolidge was pretty much a lock to return as Tanya McQuoid for the second season of Mike White's satirical series The White Lotus, US producer HBO has finally made it official, announcing her return as the show kicks off filming its second season.
The show, which was a real treat last year, featuring obnoxious rich characters and the put-upon staff members who must deal with their quirks at a luxury Hawaiian retreat, is going the anthology format via a new story, different location and collection of characters (though Coolidge's McQuoid spans both).
This next season is set a White Lotus in Sicily, and the cameras are now cranking at the San Domenico Palace, Taormina.
Casting for this one has slowly been revealed, with the ensemble this time comprising F Murray Abraham, Michael Imperioli and Adam DiMarco, who play Bert Di Grasso, Dominic De Grasso and Elbie Di Grasso, respectively — an elderly man, his son and grandson traveling together. Tom Hollander plays Quentin, an English expat vacationing with his friends and his nephew. Haley Lu Richardson is Portia, a young woman traveling with her boss, McQuoid.
The new installment also features married couple Cameron and Daphne Babcock, played by Theo James and Meghann Fahy, who are vacationing with another couple, Ethan Spiller (Will Sharpe) and his wife, Harper (Aubrey Plaza). Leo Woodall is Jack, a magnetic guest staying at the White Lotus.
No word yet on when the show might debut across the pond or here via Sky Atlantic, but we'd guess the seven-episode season will be arriving in late summer.